The effect of freeze and thaw cycles on the dynamic properties of fine-grained soil stabilized with nanocement

Abstract

ABSTRACT The development of freeze and thaw cycles causes heaps of injury to geotechnical structures, particularly roads, every year. In the present study, the effect of adding nanocement to improve the dynamic behaviour of clay under freeze-thaw cycles has been investigated. For this purpose, nanocement was mixed with clay from 1% to 4% according to the dry weight of the soil. Cylindrical samples of natural soil and soil stabilized with nanocement were prepared and cured up to 28 days. Then, dynamic triaxial experiments were performed on unstabilized samples and stabilized ones with 1, 2, 3, and 4% nanocement. The result shows the addition of nanocement increased the shear modulus and decreased the damping ratio. The highest increase in shear modulus was observed in the sample containing 4% nanocement approximately three times compared pure samples. Also, the shear modulus is reduced due to F-T cycles.