Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Compressive and Shear Properties of Environmental Cement Soils

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jcte.202506406

Author(s)

Yulong Que1,2, Jingshuang Zhang1,2,*

Affiliation(s)

1School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, China 2State Key Laboratory for Safe Mining of Deep Coal Resources and Environment Protection, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

In saline-alkali areas, projects like subgrade and slope protection engineering face the problem of cement soil strength deterioration. This is caused by complex environmental factors such as underground salts and dry-wet cycles. To address this, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are introduced as reinforcing additives to improve the mechanical properties and long-term properties of the cement soil. unconfined compressive compressive strength tests, direct shear tests, and dry-wet cycle and chlorine salt erosion test were conducted to evaluate the influence of MWCNTs on the mechanical properties of cement-stabilized soil. The results show that the optimum content of MWCNTs is 0.1%. At this content, the compressive strength of cement soil is increased by 53.89%, under 200 kPa vertical pressure, the shear strength showed improvement of 40.47%. After 15 dry-wet cycles and accelerated aging with a 30 g/L chlorine solution, the maximum loss rates of unconfined compressive strength and shear strength were 40.67% and 41.23%, respectively. The mass loss rate was only 0.9%. The compressive properties of cement soil with different content of MWCNTs has a good positive correlation with cohesion and shear properties. The results provide experimental data for the practical application of MWCNTs in complex environments.

Keywords

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes; Cement Soils; Dry-Wet Cycles; Chlorine Salt Erosion; Compressive Properties; Shear Properties

References

[1] J.W. Xie, Laboratory researches on mechanical properties and permeability of composite cement soil, Zhejiang University of Technology,2020. [2] S. Yang, G.Y. Gui, M. Qi, et al., Effect of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes on mechanical properties and microstructure of cement-based building materials, Chemistry and Adhesion, 2024,46(06):543-546+565. [3] L.L. Liu, D. Ouyang, W.T. Xu, Mechanical properties and durability of ultra high strength concrete incorporating Multi-Walled carbon nanotubes, in Materials. 2016. [4] F.F. Gao, W. Tian, Y.W. Wang, Effect of the dosage of MWCNT's on deterioration resistant of concrete subjected to combined freeze–thaw cycles and sulfate attack, Structural Concrete, 2021. 22(S1): p. E955-E965. [5] A.J.N. MacLeod, W.P. Gates, F. Collins, Durability characterisation of portland cement carbon nanotube nanocompo-sites, in Materials. 2020. [6] J.J. Yang, N. Yan, Q. Liu, Y.C. Zhang, Laboratory test on long-term deterioration of cement soil in seawater environment. Trans, Tianjin Univ. 22, 132–138 (2016). [7] J.X. Chen, A.T. Akono, Influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the hydration products of ordinary Portland cement paste. Cement and Concrete Research, 2020. 137: p. 106197. [8] F.F. Gao, W. Tian, Z. Wang, F. Wang, Effect of diameter of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on mechanical properties and microstructure of the cement-based materials, Construction and Building Materials, 2020. 260: p. 120452. [9] G.Y. Li, P.M. Wamg, X.H. Zhao, Mechanical behavior and microstructure of cement composites incorporating surface-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Carbon, 2005. 43(6): p. 1239-1245. [10] T. Nochaiya, A. Chaipanich, Behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the porosity and microstructure of cement-based materials. Applied Surface Science, 2011. 257(6): p. 1941-1945. [11] J.L. Kou, Z.Y. Zhang, G.Q. Jing, H. Zhou, Study on mechanical properties test and strength attenuation model of highductile concrete under chlorine salt-wet and dry erosion, Journal Ournal of Natural Disasters,2022,31(03):199-212 [12] S.N. Wang, X.J. Zhang, P. Zhang, Z.W. Chen, Strength properties and stabilization mechanism of fine sandy soils stabilized with cement and metakaolin, in Sustainabilit-y. 2023. [13] W.Q. Qu, N. Maimt, J. Qu, Effects of ze-olite and palm fiber on the weathering re-sistance and durability characteristic of cement soil. Scientific Reports, 2025. 15(1): p. 4408. [14] B. Chen, H.H. Huang, J.M. Hu, J.L. Liao, Z. Zhang, Research on apparent fracture and shear characteristics of CCCW modified red layerresidual spil under dry and wet cycles, Journal of Engineering Geology, 1-16 [2025-09-17]. [15] G.F. Liu, D.Y. Kan, S. Cao, Z.F. Chen, Q.F. Lyu, Effect of multi-walledcarbon nanotube on reactive powder concrete (RPC) properties in sulfate dry-wet cycling environment, Construction and Building Materials, 2022. 342: p. 128075.