Alkali-activated cementitious materials present an environmentally beneficial and high-performance option in the domain of soil solidification and stabilization. This research focused on granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), a predominant byproduct and solid waste from iron manufacturing that has a limited utilization rate. Due to its high content of calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), and aluminum (Al), slag has emerged as an effective soil curing agent. This study investigated sandy silt by employing alkali-activated slag to examine its solidification and stabilization properties. We assessed the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), deterioration strength, and solidification mechanism of alkali-activated slag-stabilized sandy silt through unconfined compressive strength tests and various microscopic analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These findings indicate that using slag alone for solidifying sandy silt is inefficient. However, following alkali activation, the UCS of solidified soil with sandy silt generally increases with increasing GGBFS content and initially increases, then decreases with increasing alkali-activator content. The ideal proportions of GGBFS and alkali-activator are between 12 %-14 % and 6 %-9 %, respectively. Upon exposure to ordinary and triple-concentration artificial seawater, the strength of the solidified soil generally diminishes over time. It is worth noting that the strength of the samples in group GGBFS14 exhibited an initial increase, followed by a decrease, as the deterioration time increased. With alkali-activator contents of 6 % and 9 %, the strength and durability of the solidified soil remain relatively stable, maintaining robust mechanical properties even after seawater erosion. The resistance of the solidified soil to seawater deterioration increases as the GGBFS content increases. Microscopic tests revealed the presence of amorphous hydration gel products (C-A-S-H). The optimal GGBFS and alkali-activator contents for sandy silt solidification in this study were determined to be 12 %-14 % and 6 %-9 %, respectively. At these optimal levels, the strength of the solidified soil at a curing age of 28 days can reach 13.49 MPa (GGBFS16AA6). This suggests that alkali-activated slag holds potential as a substitute for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in engineering applications and offers a strategy for reusing GGBFS.

To decrease the environmental impact and increase the high-quality resource utilization of construction spoil (CS), the alkali-activated slag (AAS) was selected to solidify CS and prepare solidified construction spoil (SCS). SCS with certain working and mechanical properties can be used as building materials, such as unsintered bricks. However, the preparation of SCS is inefficient, mainly because the properties of SCS are affected by various factors, and the formula is difficult to determine. This study intensively investigated the effects of the liquid-solid ratio (W/ (B + S)), clay content of CS, and binder-soil ratio (B/S) on the flowability and compressive strength of SCS. It was found that W/(B + S) was the main factor controlling compressive strength, and both W/(B + S) and clay content significantly affected the flowability of SCS. Based on an assumption for the flowability prediction method and the relationship between flowability and liquid-solid ratio of CS, AAS, and SCS, a method to predict the flowability of SCS was proposed and validated. Additionally, the extended Abrams' law was applied to fit the compressive strength variation of SCS. Combining the flowability prediction method and the extended Abrams' law, a novel formula design method for SCS was proposed and proven effective in validation experiments.

Generally, high-water-content of dredged sediment (DS) tends to suffer from inferior mechanical properties and obvious shrinkage after solidification, so finding solutions to this issue is helpful for promoting the recovery and recycling of DS. In this paper, in reference to natural gypsum (NG), phosphogypsum (PG) was incorporated into DS solidified with alkali-activated slag (AAS) system. The effect of PG (0 %-20 %) on the hydration process (0-168 h), mechanical properties (3 d, 7 d and 28 d) and autogenous shrinkage (0-7 d) of DS solidified with AAS was investigated. It is found that the addition of PG not only induces the generation of ettringite to compensate for shrinkage, but also accelerates the formation of C-A-S-H by providing active calcium to promote stiffness to resist shrinkage. This results in a reduction of autogenous shrinkage by 74.3 % and an increase of compressive strength by 28.5% when PG dosage is 15%. Compared with NG, the difference in 28d-compressive strength of PG group is not more than 7.34 % under equivalent dosages. The dissolved SO4 2-from PG could be adsorbed on CA-S-H and preserved in pore solution in the form of Na2SO4. The decrease in S/Si from 0.31 to 0.09 indicates stored SO42- could be released back into system to promote the further generation of ettringite. To obtain superior mechanical properties and volume stability, appropriate PG dosage is 10 %-15 %. Compared with the control group, it increases the content of ettringite and amorphous phase by 2.4 %-4.6 % and 3.3 %-3.7 %, respectively. This research not only provides theoretical support for DS solidified with AAS to realize efficient utilization of solid waste resources (i.e., DS, PG and slag), but also gives a new insight into solidification of other high-watercontent system, such as backfill mining, grouting materials and treatment of soft soil foundations.

The preservation of the ancient seawall site is a focal point and challenge in the protection of historical relics along Hangzhou's Grand Canal in China. This endeavor holds significant historical and contemporary value in uncovering and perpetuating Hangzhou's cultural heritage. Researchers investigating the Linping of the seawall site aimed to address soil site deterioration by selecting environmentally friendly alkali-activated slag cementitious materials and applying the response surface method (RSM) to conduct solidification experiments on the seawall soil. Researchers used the results of unconfined compressive strength tests and microscopic electron microscopy analysis, considering the comprehensive performance of soil solidification mechanisms and mechanical properties, to establish a least-squares regression fitting model to optimize the solidification material process parameters. The experimental results indicate that the optimal mass ratio of lime, gypsum, and slag for achieving the best solidification process parameters for the seawall soil, with a 28-day curing period, is 1:1.9:6.2. This ratio was subsequently applied to the restoration and reconstruction of the seawall site, with parts of the restored seawall exhibited in a museum to promote the sustainable conservation of urban cultural heritage. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the protection and restoration of soil sites.