Research on the performance of solidified soil in capillary water absorption seawater environments is necessary to reveal the durability under conditions such as above seawater level in coastal zones. Taking soda residue–ground granulated blast furnace slag–carbide slag (SR-GGBS-CS) and cement as marine soil solidifiers, the deterioration characteristics of solidified soil resulting from capillary seawater absorption were elucidated systematically through a series of tests including capillary water absorption, unconfined compressive strength, swelling, local strain, and crystallization. The microscopic mechanism was analysed through nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray diffraction tests. The results showed that cement-solidified soil exhibited higher water absorption and faster swelling compared with SR-GGBS-CS solidified soil in the one-dimensional seawater absorption state. In the three-dimensional seawater absorption state, solidified soil with low GGBS dosage experienced a significant transition from vertical shrinkage to swelling during the capillary water absorption process, leading to a substantial decrease in strength after 7 days of crystallization. Cement-solidified soil displayed non-uniform and anisotropic swelling, along with the formation of more external salt crystals. Overall, the soil solidified with 25% SR, 10% GGBS, and 4% CS demonstrated robust resistance to capillary absorption deterioration in a seawater environment due to its minimal water absorption and swelling, uniform surface strain, weak salt crystallization, and limited strength deterioration caused by capillary water absorption.
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1 August 2025
Research Article|
May 19 2025
Deterioration of SR-GGBS-CS solidified soft soil caused by capillary seawater absorption Available to Purchase
Jun He;
Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Architectural and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Health Perception and Ecological Restoration of River and Lake, Ministry of Education,
Hubei University of Technology
, Wuhan, China
Corresponding author Jun He (hjunas@163.com)
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Wenjing Li;
Wenjing Li
Graduate Student, School of Civil Engineering, Architectural and Environment,
Hubei University of Technology
, Wuhan, China
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Shiru Luo
Shiru Luo
Graduate Student, School of Civil Engineering, Architectural and Environment,
Hubei University of Technology
, Wuhan, China
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Corresponding author Jun He (hjunas@163.com)
Declaration of interest statement The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
August 13 2024
Accepted:
April 22 2025
© 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
2025
Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only
Environmental Geotechnics (2025) 12 (7): 531–547.
Article history
Received:
August 13 2024
Accepted:
April 22 2025
Citation
He J, Li W, Luo S (2025), "Deterioration of SR-GGBS-CS solidified soft soil caused by capillary seawater absorption". Environmental Geotechnics, Vol. 12 No. 7 pp. 531–547, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.24.00117
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