Study of the Curing Behaviour of an Algerian Calcareous Crust

For some compaction water content, calcareous crust remains a solid, and may readily be collapsing when the saturation increased. After a period that depends on the evaporation of the water, the calcareous crust compacted begins to harden or gain strength. The strength gain is very rapid at quick drying, but it will be slow, for slow drying. Evaporation from the calcareous crust compacted should be related to the increase in strength. This experimental work carried out on samples dried under different conditions, attempts to explain the origin of the curing and the existence of a water content for which it is maximum. SEM observations and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test have shown that the assumption that suction contributes only to an increase in cohesion may not be always true. The dissolution of calcite during the imbibition may also influence the curing.