The Behaviour of colloidal silica grouted fine-medum grained sand under static and dynamic loading

Colloidal silica suspension produced from saturated solutions of silicicacid is an outstanding kind of chemical grouting with its microscopicparticle size. In this study strength property of colloidal silica groutedfine medium grained sand is researched. At the outset, the gel time andviscosity of colloidal silica is observed. Depending on the results, theappropriate accelerator (water-salt solution) colloidal silica ratio isdetermined. After that fine-medium grained sand is grouted with themixture of colloidal silica and accelerator. Unconfined compressiontests are performed on the samples obtained in this way. The effect ofthe gel time and cure period on the strength of grouted samples arealso investigated. Eventually, the specimens are grouted again toperform cyclic triaxial tests. At the end of optimum curing period cyclictriaxial tests are performed at different cyclic stress ratios and thestrength propeties of the samples under cyclic loading are investigated.None of the samples are failed during the cyclic triaxial tests. To seethe effect of cyclic loading, unconfined compression tests areconducted on unfailed grouted samples. The study showed thatcolloidal silica grout increase the cyclic deformation resistance of fine-medium grained sands significantly and unconfined compressionstrength of colloidal silica grouted sand is not affected by cyclicloading.