Experimental Investigation of the Corrosion Mechanism of Cemented Soils in Magnesium Sulfate Solution

Pengju Han; Y. Frank Chen; Bozhu Shen; David Y. Du

doi:10.3139/120.110616

Article

Experimental Investigation of the Corrosion Mechanism of Cemented Soils in Magnesium Sulfate Solution

Pengju Han , Y. Frank Chen , Bozhu Shen and David Y. Du

Published/Copyright: September 28, 2014

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 56 Issue 9

Abstract

Soils stabilized by cement are found to be influenced by the environmental condition such as acid rain, seawater invasion, or industrial pollution. These adverse effects will lead to the deterioration of a structure. In order to study the process of corrosion effects including the changes of the corrosion rate of the surface, compression strength of the cemented soils and the Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ ion concentrations of the corrosive solutions have been determined. A series of experiments were conducted on the cemented soil blocks cured with different concentrations of MgSO₄ solution. Specifically, the experimental work includes photo documentation, compressive strength tests and measurements of Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ ion concentrations. The test results show that the rate of corrosion for the sample surface increases with increasing concentration of the corrosive solution, while, the compressive strength decreases accordingly. Moreover, the corrosion rate degree intensifies with corrosion time. Chemical analysis of the corrosive environment indicates that CaSO₄ reacts with the cemented soil, resulting in crystallizing corrosion products of 3 CaO ×Al₂O₃×3 CaSO₄×32 H₂O and CaCO₃×CaSO₄× CaSiO₃×15 H₂O. Mg(OH)₂ reacts with 3 CaO ×2 SiO₂×3 H₂O (C-S-H) and forms new dissolving corrosive reactants such as MgO ×SiO₂×H₂O (M-S-H). It is concluded that the corrosion of cemented soils in MgSO₄ solution is a complex reaction involving the resolving and crystallizing corrosive processes. Finally, a strength model for cemented soils is proposed based on the relationship between the compressive strength and the concentrations of Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ ions.

Kurzfassung

Erden, die mit Zement stabilisiert werden, unterliegen Einflüssen der Umweltbedingungen, wie saurem Regen, Seewassereindringen oder Umweltverschmutzungen. Diese nachteiligen Effekte führen zur Zerstörung der Struktur. Um den Verlauf der Korrosionseffekte, einschließlich der Veränderungen des Korrosionsgrades der Oberfläche, zu untersuchen, wurde die Druckfestigkeit von zementierten Erden unter dem Einfluss von Mg²⁺- und SO₄²⁻-Ionenkonzentrationen in den Korrosionslösungen untersucht. Es wurde eine Reihe von Experimenten mit zementierten Erdblöcken durchgeführt, die mit verschieden konzentrierten MgSO₄-Lösungen behandelt wurden. Insbesondere beinhalteten die experimentellen Arbeiten die photographische Dokumentation, Druckversuche und Messungen der Mg²⁺- und SO₄²⁻-Ionenkonzentrationen. Die Testergebnisse zeigen, dass die Korrosion auf der Probenoberfläche mit dem Konzentrationsanstieg der korrosiven Lösung zunimmt, während die Druckfestigkeit entsprechend abnimmt. Darüber hinaus verstärkt sich die Korrosionsrate mit der Korrosionszeit. Die chemische Analyse des Korrosionsmediums weist darauf hin, dass CaSO₄ mit der zementierten Erde reagiert, was zu den kristallisierten Korrosionsprodukten 3 CaO × Al₂O₃× 3 CaSO₄× 32 H₂O und CaCO₃× CaSO₄× CaSiO₃× 15 H₂O führt. Mg(OH)₂ reagiert mit 3CaO×2SiO₂×3H₂O (C-S-H) und bildet neue sich auflösende Korrosionsreaktanten, wie MgO ×SiO₂×H₂O (M-S-H). Es wird gefolgert, dass die Korrosion von zementierten Erden infolge der MgSO₄-Lösungen eine komplexe Reaktion ist, die Wiederauflösungs- und Kristallisationsprozesse involviert. Schließlich wird ein Festigkeitsmodell für zementierte Erden vorgeschlagen, das auf dem Verhältnis zwischen Druckfestigkeit und den Ionenkonzentrationen an Mg²⁺ und SO₄²⁻ basiert.

*Correspondence Address Y. Frank Chen, Ph.D., P.E. Professor of Civil Engineering The Pennsylvania State University 777 W Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057-4898, USA

Associate Prof. Dr. Pengju Han was born in 1981. He is teacher of College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, China. He obtained the doctor degree in Geotechnical Engineering from Taiyuan University of Technology, China, in 2009. He has been a visiting scholar of Department of Civil Engineering at The Pennsylvania State of University, USA. His study focused on corrosive and mechanical properties of civil materials.

Y. Frank Chen, born in 1956, is currently Tenured Professor of The Pennsylvania State University, USA and Distinguished Professor of Taiyuan University of Technology, China. He obtained his PhD degree from the University of Minnesota, USA in 1988. Dr. Chen is specialized on dynamic soil-structure interaction, computational methods, limit states design, and mitigation for civil infrastructures.

Bozhu Shen, born in 1990, is graduate student of College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, China. He obtained the bachelor degree from the Northeast Forestry University, China, in 2013, in civil engineering. His primary research area is geotechnical engineering.

David Y. Du, born in 1956, is Distinguished Professor of Taiyuan University of Technology, China (under Shanxi Hundred Talents Program). He obtained his PhD degree from the Rice University, USA in 1993, in civil engineering. His primary research area is foundation engineering.

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Published Online: 2014-09-28

Published in Print: 2014-09-01

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