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Civil Engineering Department,  Kuwait University, P. 0. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait. E-mail: nabil@civil.kuniv.edu.kw    

ABSTRACT

The effect of cementation on the geotechnical properties of granular soils in arid lands is examined by laboratory testing. Emphasis is placed on the strength and compressibility of artificially cemented sand specimens two sandy soils were employed in the testing program which included basic properties, consolidation tests, triaxial and unconfined compression tests on cemented sand specimens. The first soil consists of surface windblown dune sand, whereas the second soil is a silty sand with an appreciable amount of fines. Ordinary Portland cement was used as an additive, in small quantities up to 4% by weight, to achieve different cementation levels after proper curing. The results show increased strength and stiffness with an increase in the cement content, as well as the influence of grading the characteristics on the properties of artificially cemented sands.

Keywords: Cemented sands; Compressibility; Shear strength; Soil properties; unconfined strength