Research on the mechanical properties of EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead lightweight soil composites are a new type of artificial geotechnical material with low density and high strength characteristics that can be widely used in engineering projects. To promote the wide application of EPS bead lightweight soil in engineering, when slag is used to replace part of the cement as a binding agent, it can better improve the effect of soil and reduce engineering costs. The mechanical properties of EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag were analyzed by conducting an unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test and triaxial test on lightweight soil with different EPS bead contents and slag contents. The particle sizes of the EPS beads are 1~3 mm, the EPS contents are 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%, and the slag-cement composite binding agents are 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The results show that the UCS decreases significantly with increasing EPS bead content at different EPS bead contents and slag contents; the UCS of the specimen with 30% slag content is the largest; and the UCS of lightweight soil without slag is comparable to that of lightweight soil with a slag content of approximately 60%. The peak stress in triaxial increases with increasing confining pressure, and the modulus of deformation decreases linearly with increasing EPS bead content. the slag-cement composite binding agent has a significantly better reinforcing effect than single mixed cement. The stress‒strain curves of EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag exhibits hardening and softening characteristics. EPS bead content and slag content determine the stress‒strain characteristics of the EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag. The macromechanical properties based on the microscopic mechanism of the EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag shows that different slag contents affect the failure pattern of EPS lightweight soil mixed with slag. The research results can provide a reference for engineering design and application.