Response and fracture of cement-treated layers in flexure are significantly influenced by their load-deformation characteristics in tension and compression and their tensile strength. The purpose of this paper is to use the flexure beam test to investigate the flexural behaviour of a cement-treated silty clay and a cement-treated sand mix. Specifically, material properties such as tensile and compressive moduli, flexural moduli, tensile strength, flexural strength, and tensile strain at failure are determined for different compaction variables, cement contents, and curing ages. The observed difference in tensile and compressive moduli (i.e., Bimodular properties) is explained using proposed mechanistic models, and the practical significance of bimodular behaviour is illustrated.
Abstract