Effects of silica fume on cemented sand using ultrasonic pulse velocity

When the geotechnical engineering projects have to be built on weak soils, problems related to bearing capacity and settlement arise. Chemical stabilization of soil using cement is a popular and effective technique that can significantly improve workability and shear strength of soil. However, very limited studies have been conducted to reveal the effect of silica fume on the engineering properties of cement-stabilized sandy soil. For this purpose, in the present study, a series of laboratory tests including standard Proctor compaction, unconfined compression and ultrasonic pulse velocity tests were carried out on sand-cement-silica fume samples. Moreover, it has been attempted to investigate the relation between ultrasonic pulse velocity and unconfined compressive strength of cemented sand containing silica fume. The cement contents were 3, 5 and 7% and silica fume contents were 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1% by weight of dry sand. The cylindrical specimens were prepared and cured for 3, 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56?days and tested. The results show that inclusion of silica fume to cemented sand increases maximum dry unit weight, unconfined compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity while decreases optimum moisture content. In addition, according to the obtained results, acceptable correlations exist between ultrasonic pulse velocity, unconfined compressive strength and stiffness.