Research on properties of solidified loess with calcined ginger nuts in rammed earth for sapping area of earthen sites

¹ The Third Institute of Geology and Minerals Exploration, Gansu Provincial Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration and Development, Lanzhou, China
² State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
³ School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, China

^* Corresponding author: erxingpeng@lzb.ac.cn

Abstract

As a non-toxic and pollution-free curing agent, calcined ginger nuts is introduced to protect rock soil cultural relics recently. In order to study the weatherability, chroma and mechanical properties of solidified loess with calcined ginger nuts, based on the reinforcement project of sapping area of Niutoucheng site in Lintan County of China, a series of tests were conducted at different ages. The results show that the properties of solidified loess are related to the dosage and curing ages. With the increase of dosage and ages, the anti disintegration and anti shrinkage properties are improved, and the mechanical properties are also improved. This study validates that as a new material, calcined ginger nuts is an effective curing agent for rammed earth to reinforce earthen sites. Moreover, the study provides support for its application in earthen sites and reveals its potential engineering practical value.