Evaluation of Tensile Strength of Cement-Treated Soil Based on Laboratory Tests

Tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength of cement-treated soil are crucial mechanical parameters in soil stabilization by the cement mixing method. Although the unconfined compressive strength of soil-cement mixture has been well-documented, tensile strength has not received much concern. The purpose of this paper is to study the tensile strength of cement-treated soil using Portland Cement Blended PCB 40 and figure out the relationship between these two parameters. Totally, 54 soil-cement specimens were prepared with different cement-soil ratios (i.e., C/S = 10%, 15%, 20%) and stored at room temperature under air-humid condition. The results of laboratory Brazilian tests and unconfined compression tests show that the average ratio of tensile strength and unconfined compressive strength corresponding to the air-humid curing condition is about 0.08. There is not much difference in the ratio of the tensile strength to the unconfined compressive strength regardless of cement-soil ratio with curing time. The tensile strength achieved 0.78 MPa with a cement content of 20% at a curing day of 15 days.