Damage of Cement Stabilized Soil under the Action of Freeze-Thaw-Sulfate Corrosion Cycles

Cement-soil samples were treated by different freeze-thaw-sulfate corrosion cycles. The effects of salt-freezing on the mechanical properties and structure of the samples were studied by means of macro-morphological observation, chemical composition analysis, mechanical property testing and porosity measurement. The results showed that under the salt-freeze coupling action, the chemical reaction led to the decrease of cement gel and the gradual increase of the corrosion degree of cement-soil. The mechanical properties of the samples showed a decreasing trend with the increase of the number of cycles, and the decline rate was fast at first and then slow. The unconfined compressive strength had a good negative linear relationship with the pore volume. Under the action of freeze-thaw-sulfate corrosion cycle, the fundamental reason for the deterioration of the mechanical properties of cement-soil was the corrosion damage to its microstructure.