Phase Changes of Soil-Cement Mixture Using Fall Cone and Heat of Hydration

Some amount of cements can be added into the soil with high water content to improve the engineering properties. In such a case, it is difficult to predict and figure out the phase changes of the soil-cement mixture which is closely associated with workability of the soil-cement mixture. Changes in heat of hydration and hardness of the cement pastes are known to provide the useful information about the phase changes of the soil-cement mixtures. In this study, heat of hydration and cone penetration depth were measured from the specimens of cement paste and 3 soil-cement mixtures. From the experimental results, it was found that the phase changes of the soil-cement mixtures are the same as those of cement paste, and that shear strength of the mixtures abruptly increases when the heat of hydration is minimum. Initial setting time of the mixtures coincides with the state when fall cone penetration depth was 1.0 mm and it is defined as plastic limit of the mixtures. Initial setting time of the mixtures is retarded as soil/cement ratio is increased. Measurements of heat of hydration and fall cone apparatus could be the useful tools to predict the phase changes of tile soil-cement mixtures.