Study on fracture evolution law of red clay stabilized by high content phosphogypsum

The crack propagation in red clay stabilized by a high dosage of phosphogypsum was studied at different temperatures using cement as a curing agent and phosphogypsum and red clay as a curing agent (1:1-1:3), which provides a scientific basis for the use of phosphogypsum in red clay roadbeds. The results show that the fissures of the stabilized red clay with high content of phosphogypsum occur earlier than that of the plain red clay, and the fissures develop from the middle of the soil edge. With the increase in drying time, the width and depth of the fissures increase, and the development of the fissures is completed after drying for 25 hrs. The fracture rate increases with the increase of temperature in both plain red clay and high phosphogypsum stabilized red clay. As the phosphogypsum content increases, the fracture rate decreases, and it is at its lowest when the phosphogypsum to red clay ratio is 1:1. By increasing the amount of phosphogypsum, cracks in red clay can be prevented.