In the context of efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions, the utilization of recycled aggregate soil mixes for soil stabilization has garnered considerable interest. This study examines the mechanical properties of mixed soil samples, varying by dosage of a soft soil curing agent C, recycled aggregate R content, and curing duration. Mechanical evaluations were conducted using unconfined compressive strength tests (UCS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and laser diffraction particle size meter tests (PSD). The results indicate that the strength of the mixed soil samples first increases and then decreases with higher dosages of recycled aggregate, reaching optimal strength at a 20% dosage. Similarly, an increase in curing agent dosage enhances the strength, peaking at 20%. The maximum strength of the mixed soils is achieved at 28 days under various proportions. The introduction of the curing agent leads to the formation of a flocculent structure, as observed in FESEM, which contributes to the enhanced strength of the soil mixes. Specimens prepared with a combination of 20% R and 20% C, maintained at a constant moisture content of 20%, and cured for 28 days exhibit a balance between economic, environmental, and engineering performance.
Calcareous sand, characterized by numerous pore spaces, easy fragmentation, and low strength, is commonly used as fill material in island construction projects. Due to these limitations, it often fails to meet the requirements of actual engineering applications. This paper uses oxidized graphene in combination with fly ash cement to modify calcareous sand. The effects of oxidized graphene, fly ash cement, and curing time on the modification effect were investigated through triaxial tests and numerical simulations. The experimental results show the following: (1) Both the extension of curing age and the increase in the dosage of fly ash cement can improve the shear performance of calcareous sand, with the increase in the dosage of fly ash cement able to ensure thorough bonding between calcareous sand particles. (2) Graphene oxide can significantly improve the shear performance of calcareous sand cement mortar, with the optimal dosage being 0.06%. Excess amounts result in a reduced performance improvement, which is related to the degree of the catalysis of oxidized graphene on hydration reactions. (3) The numerical simulation shows that when the maximum shear stress reached 3437 kPa, cracks began appearing on the specimen, consistent with the experimental results. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation results reveal the crack propagation pattern in the specimens, showing that the stress at crack initiation is lower than the peak stress.
17 January 2026 in Geotechnical and Geological Engineering