Academic Journal of Architecture and Geotechnical Engineering, 2026, 8(1); doi: 10.25236/AJAGE.2026.080115.
Jianfu Zhou1, Yuguo Zhang1, Dan Zhang1
1School of Intelligent Construction and Civil Engineering, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450007, China
To mitigate engineering challenges caused by the expansion and contraction properties of expansive soils while achieving resource utilization of industrial solid waste calcium carbide slag, this study employed a composite improvement mixture of calcium carbide slag and zeolite powder to modify expansive soils. Comprehensive tests were conducted on the modified soils, including compaction tests, free swelling ratio, unloading expansion rate, and unconfined compressive strength, to investigate the variation patterns of expansion/contraction behavior and unconfined compressive strength under different curing periods and additive dosages of calcium carbide slag-zeolite powder (C-ZP) mixture. The results demonstrated that increasing the total dosage of calcium carbide slag and zeolite powder progressively elevated the optimal moisture content of the modified soil while reducing its maximum dry density; both free swelling ratio and unloading expansion rate decreased with higher dosages, with the composite modification exhibiting superior performance compared to single additive applications. The use of C-ZP significantly enhanced the early-stage strength of expansive soils, with the highest unconfined compressive strength and optimal material utilization achieved at dosages of 8% calcium carbide slag and 9% zeolite powder.
Expansive Soil, Calcium Carbide Slag, Zeolite Powder, Physical Properties, Swelling and Shrinkage Behavior, Unconfined Compressive Strength
Jianfu Zhou, Yuguo Zhang, Dan Zhang. Experimental Study on the Enhancement of Physical Properties of Expansive Soil Utilizing Calcium Carbide Slag-Zeolite Powder Composite. Academic Journal of Architecture and Geotechnical Engineering (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 121-127. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJAGE.2026.080115.
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