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A laboratory investigation of the geomechanical properties of graphite stabilized clayey sands

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effect of graphite additive on the strength parameters of clayey sand. Compaction, unconfined compression strength, shear strength, and permeability tests on clayey sand samples were conducted under non-stabilized and stabilized conditions containing varying amounts of graphite. The results were analyzed, and the soil microstructure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) on non-stabilized and stabilized samples. After 28 days, the results indicated an increase in graphite content and that curing increased the compression strength of the stabilized sample to 340% of that of the non-stabilized sample with a 20% graphite content. The graphite content increased the internal friction angle, reaching a maximum of 59% for the sample stabilized with 5% graphite. Cohesion, maximum dry unit weight, optimum water content, and permeability coefficient decreased by 12.5%, 7.3%, 21%, and 95.5%, respectively, in the stabilized sample with 25% graphite. SEM images indicated that the flocculated continuous structure of the soil resulted in a change in the engineering parameters studied.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Iran Khak Company, particularly Mr. Basir, the managing director, for supplying us with laboratory equipment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Geology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Ali M. Rajabi

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

    Mozhgan Sadeh & M. Hossein Mohammadrezaei

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA

    Behzad Behnia

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  1. Ali M. Rajabi
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  2. Mozhgan Sadeh
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  3. M. Hossein Mohammadrezaei
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  4. Behzad Behnia
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Correspondence to Ali M. Rajabi.

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Communicated by Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

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Rajabi, A.M., Sadeh, M., Mohammadrezaei, M.H. et al. A laboratory investigation of the geomechanical properties of graphite stabilized clayey sands. Arab J Geosci 14, 2720 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09001-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09001-2

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