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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties
and Environmental Benefits
of Bentonite-Modified Cement-Stabilized Silt
1
School of Rail Transportation, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215131, China
2
Intelligent Urban Rail Engineering Research Center of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, 215131, China
3
School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
4
State Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation of Explosion & Impact, Army Engineering University
of PLA, Nanjing, 210007, China
Submission date: 2025-06-23
Final revision date: 2025-07-21
Acceptance date: 2025-09-07
Online publication date: 2026-01-07
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
bentonite-silt-cement compositesunconfined compressive strengthsoil permeabilityenergy consumptioncarbon emission
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
In response to the global drive for carbon neutrality, this study investigates whether bentonite
can partially replace cement to enhance the mechanical properties and environmental sustainability
of cement-stabilized silt. Laboratory tests and field analyses were conducted on waste sludge for
subway tunnel engineering. Results show that bentonite significantly improves unconfined compressive
strength, with peak performance at an optimal dosage; excessive addition causes strength loss due to
swelling and micro-cracks. Bentonite also increases failure strain and reduces brittleness, with the best
effect at 9% content. A linear relationship between the deformation modulus (E50) and compressive
strength was confirmed. Permeability decreased significantly at 3% bentonite and then stabilized. Strain
energy analysis verified improved fracture resistance. Importantly, using bentonite can reduce cement
usage by up to 30%, saving about 200,000 kcal of energy per ton of mixture. Field tests further validate
its practical effectiveness in subway tunnel applications. Overall, the findings confirm that the study’s
goal was achieved, demonstrating both structural and environmental benefits, and providing a practical
reference for sustainable construction practices.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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