Use of Graphene Oxide Nanomaterial to Improve Mechanical Properties of Cement-Treated Silty Soil

Application of nanotechnology is relatively new to the field of civil engineering. Recent studies have shown that nanomaterials derived from various soil and rock minerals have significant prospect for soil stabilization, seepage control, and other geotechnical issues. The effects of graphene oxide nanomaterial on mechanical properties such as compaction characteristics, elastic modulus, UCS, and microstructural characteristics of a soil–cement composite have been explored in this experimental study. In the first phase of experiments, optimum content of cement treatment for a low plastic silty soil was established as 7.5%. The second set of soil samples were prepared by adding graphene oxide (GO) at various concentrations (0.02–0.1% by dry weight of cement) to the soil–cement composite and subsequently cured for 7, 14, and 21 days. The mechanical properties such as compaction characteristics, elastic modulus (E50), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) at various concentrations of GO and aging periods were investigated. A promising potential of GO in enhancing the engineering properties of the cemented soil was observed, and respective empirical correlations have been presented. Likewise, the microstructural analysis of soil–cement–GO composite was also done using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis to explain the interaction of GO with the soil particles.