Properties and prediction of dry shrinkage deformation in cement-stabilised sand and gravel

To study the dry shrinkage deformation of cement-stabilised sand and gravel, a theoretical prediction model of capillary tension and macroscopic shrinkage deformation within the pores of cement-stabilised materials was derived, based on Equation Kelvin-Laplace and the elastoplastic theory of thick squash shells. The variation trends and properties of shrinkage deformation in different materials were examined through dry shrinkage tests, and the pore size distribution of these materials was analyzed using mercury intrusion tests. The research results indicate that the capillary tension in cement increases with the dosage, and the pore distribution in cement-stabilised mud materials generally exhibits a unimodal pore structure. Additionally, as the cement dosage increases, this unimodal distribution tends to shift to the right. The cumulative mercury intrusion also increases with the rise in cement dosage. The predictive accuracy of the drying shrinkage model is high, demonstrating its applicability to dry shrinkage deformation prediction.