Compression and consolidation behaviors of lime-treated dredging slurry under vacuum pressure

• Published in: Engineering geology Vol. 270; p. 105573
• Main Authors: Sun, Hong-lei, Weng, Zhen-qi, Liu, Si-jie, Geng, Xue-yu, Pan, Xiao-dong, Cai, Yuan-qiang, Shi, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.06.2020
• Subjects: laboratory experimentation; Lime-treated slurry; mechanical properties; Prefabricated vertical drain; risk reduction; Settlement prediction; slurries; Soil compressibility; Soil consolidation; soil permeability; Vacuum preloading; Lime-treated slurry; Prefabricated vertical drain; Settlement prediction; Soil consolidation; Soil compressibility; Vacuum preloading
• ISSN: 0013-7952; 1872-6917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105573

Dredging slurry is treated by a combination of lime treatment and vacuum preloading. However, the mechanical characteristics and consolidation mechanics of lime-treated slurry under vacuum loading is not fully understood, making it difficult to predict slurry settlement. In this study, we develop a laboratory model of lime-treated slurry and subject it to vacuum preloading to investigate the compression and consolidation behaviors. The results demonstrate the reduction of the risk of clogging around the prefabricated vertical drains, the increase in soil permeability, and the improvement of vacuum preloading upon lime treatment. log (1 + e)-log p curves for soils with different percentages of lime content are obtained through a series of modified oedometer tests. Based on these curves, an analytical solution for lime-treated slurry settlement under vacuum preloading was derived and validated through laboratory tests. The solution can be used to predict lime-treated slurry settlement under vacuum pressure effectively. •Investigate the compression characteristic of lime-treated slurry with high water content•Propose an analytical solution to predict the settlement of lime-treated slurry based on log (1 + e)-log p compression model.•Verify the accuracy of the theoretical solution through lab model tests•Interpret the consolidation characteristics of slurry under different lime content