Excavated soil from widescale tunneling and excavation can be used in 3D-printed constructions. This research investigates the feasibility of 3D printing using geopolymer stabilized excavated soil (GP-E) containing 42% clay rich in kaolinite minerals. At dosages 0.50-1.5 wt%, sucrose is added to control the hydration and timedependent rheological properties, enabling adequate open printing time (OPT) for large-scale printing. Experimental findings show that 1% and 1.5% sucrose addition to GP-E offers OPT of 130 min and 170 min respectively compared to 32 min for GP-E. By enabling better dispersion, the addition of sucrose allows smooth extrusion with shape retention of 90 - 92% at a lower NaOH solution-to-binder ratio (0.68) than GP-E (0.75). Sucrose and clay (in the soil) act synergistically to reduce the time-dependent static yield stress but maintain it at an adequate level of 5-8 kPa required for stacking up the layers without collapse. Flow retention and thixotropy are maintained at 100% during the printing window, which balances extrusion and buildability. As a result, the sucroseGP-E mix could be built up to a height of 1.05 m compared to 0.19 m for GP-E. 1 % sucrose-added GP-E possesses 28 - 40% and 70% higher wet compressive strength and inter-layer bonding respectively compared to GP-E depending on the loading direction. These are linked to the refinement of capillary porosity and a 13-15% reduction in shrinkage. In summary, the findings present a potential route for controlling the printing time of geopolymer-stabilized earthen materials while reducing the embodied carbon and enhancing the mechanical performance.
This study delves into the parametric optimalization of cement-based stabilized soft clays (CBSC) combined vacuum-assisted filtration (VAF) technique on for engineering applications, focusing on the influence of the retarder, calcium source and intermittent time etc. Key findings include VAF benefiting CBSC's strength for water discharge from the paste, where the UCS of CBSC treated with VAF can increase more than ten times higher than the untreated samples (e.g., 767 kPa versus 60 kPa). The added retarders extend the initial setting time, thus facilitating the removal of excessive water, that the 0.2 % addition of calcium lignosulfonate causes 6.5 % increment of dewatering mass. Especially, calcium lignosulfonate, working as a versatile agent of imparting significant improvements in the rheological properties of cement mixtures and augmenting the structural integrity of clayey soils, was found to significantly enhance the VAF efficiency and the UCS, of which 28-day's UCS further increases comparing to referential group after VAF. The study also reveals that calcium sources, such as desulfurized ash and lime, are also vital in replenishing calcium ions lost during VAF and maintaining a strong alkaline environment, significantly contributing to the strength enhancement. Additionally, the intermittent timing is also critical to the filtration efficiency, where the intermittent time was recommended within two hours post-mixing. These findings offer valuable insights for the practical application of CBSC by the VAF assistance, particularly involving soft clays with high water content.