Clayey soils are detrimental for many geotechnical applications. Especially smectite, a widespread clay mineral in soils, presents a challenge for engineers, as it is highly plastic, has low shear strength, very slow consolidation, and large swelling and shrinkage strains. Commonly, such soils are stabilised using a CaO-based cement, which is globally a major source of CO2 emission. In my doctoral studies, I investigate alternative and potentially sustainable approach: The stabilisation of smectite rich soils with MgO-based cementitious binder. The addition of such material to smectite causes a structurally modification of the smectite minerals into so-called hydroxy-interlayered smectites (HIS). Compared to conventional smectite, HIS has vastly different geotechnical properties, e.g. reduced swelling and shrinkage. My thesis seeks an improved understanding of the HIS transformation through an MgO-based additive, which is potentially a valid and environmentally friendly alternative to current stabilisers.

Contact:

Wolfgang Kurt Jan Zucha, Ellina Bernard

Publications:

1) W.J. Zucha, E. Bernard, R. Kuhn, M. Plötze, A. Puzrin, Effects of MgO-based cementitious binder on smectites, Appl. Clay Sci. 265 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2024.107677.

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