Laboratory Investigation the Consolidation of Chinese Ancient Earthen Sites (Andier City Ruins) with Potassium Silicate Material

A high molar ratio potassium silicate (PS) is particularly suitable for soil site protection in the arid regions of northwestern China. In this paper, disturbed soil from the Andier site was taken to make soil specimens, and the reinforcing effect of potassium silicate on the site soil was investigated by wind tunnel tests and water spray tests. The results showed that the resistance of site soils to both wind and rain erosion was improved after reinforcement with PS. Furthermore, at a dry density of 1.51 g/cm3 of the treated soil, wind erosion of the samples fortified with 3% PS was less than that of the samples fortified with 0 and 7% PS. In the rain erosion test, at a dry density of 1.72 g/cm3 of treated soil, the amount of rain erosion of the sample fortified with 7% PS was less than that of the samples fortified with 0 and 3% PS.