Effect of curing temperature on the mechanical characteristics of cement-treated soils: a review

Abstract

Nowadays, the treatment of soft soil with cement is gaining popularity to meet the demands of construction development. Various factors, including soil type, cement content and type, water-cement ratio, curing conditions, and others, influence the effectiveness of this method in enhancing soil mechanical properties. The impact of curing temperature on mechanical properties is significant, and the curing temperature in cement-treated soil typically increases due to the heat generated from cement hydration. This heat is retained in the soil for an extended period, particularly in deep mixing columns. This review summarizes the existing papers conducted regarding the effect of curing temperature on cement-soil mechanical properties, focusing on strength and stiffness. The present paper also includes strength prediction models that consider the influence of curing temperature. In addition, the Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) used to determine the chemically bound water content in cement-treated soil and the X-ray diffraction (XRD) test to explain the chemical mechanism in cement-treated soil are also mentioned.