Effects of cementing matrix characteristics and particle size on the adhesion rule and mechanical properties of cemented granular materials

The process of filling self-compacting cement grout (SCCG) into granular packing without disturbing the granular skeleton culminates in the formation of a well-defined cemented granular materials (CGMs). The inherent attributes of both the cementing matrix and granular packing critically dictate the adhesion behavior and mechanical performance of CGMs. A succession of cement grout flow tests was conducted to elucidate the influence of particle size and the SCCG flowability on SCCG adhesion mechanism within granular packing. Furthermore, the influence of particle size and the cementing matrix volume on the mechanical characteristics of CGMs was scrutinized via uniaxial compressive testing. The results illuminate that the adhesion behavior of SCCG within granular packing is predominantly dependent on the yield stress of SCCG and the average particle size. Additionally, it is established that the peak strength of CGMs is intimately intertwined with the cementing matrix volume and the average particle size, as corroborated by a substantial aggregate of 135 uniaxial compression tests.