Durability Evaluation of Cement Stabilized Gravel Base with Iron Tailings Sand in Cold Regions

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1080

Abstract

Abstract:

To improve the large-scale resource utilization level of iron tailings sand in road construction projects in severe cold mining areas， iron tailings sand was used to partially replace fine aggregates in preparing iron tailings sand cement stabilized gravel. The influence of iron tailings sand content on compaction parameters and unconfined compressive strength was investigated. The drying shrinkage characteristics， thermal shrinkage characteristics， frost resistance， and fatigue performance of cement stabilized gravel base under different preparation conditions were systematically studied. The results indicate that sodium silicate modification of iron tailings sand enhances its interfacial adhesion with cement paste， thereby improving the road performance of cement-stabilized gravel bases. As the iron tailings sand content increases， the maximum dry density of the cement-stabilized gravel increases first and then decreases. When the dosage of iron tailings sand is 60% （mass fraction）， the unconfined compressive strength reaches its maximum. Reducing cement content and modifying the surface of iron tailings sand both improve the durability of cement stabilized gravel. Compared with the sample mixed with unmodified iron tailings sand， the dry shrinkage coefficients of cement-stabilized gravel modified with iron tailings sand at a cement content of 4.0%（mass fraction） decrease by 24.31% and 17.74% at 7 and 14 d， respectively. When the temperature is reduced to 10~<20 ℃， the thermal shrinkage coefficient of cement stabilized gravel base samples with modified iron tailings sand reaches its minimum value. When the cement content is 4.0%， the improvement in frost resistance of cement stabilized gravel is more pronounced. The addition and modification of iron tailings sand can prolong the fatigue life of cement stabilized gravel， with the fatigue life improvement reaching up to 86.43%. The introduction of iron tailings sand in cold and arid mining areas can improve the service durability of cement stabilized gravel. The optimal replacement ratio of fine aggregates with modified iron tailings sand is recommended as 60%.

Key words: road engineering, iron tailings sand, cement stabilized gravel base, severe cold mining area, performance evaluation

CLC Number:

U414

GAO Feng, YANG Zhuohang, HAN Chang, WEN Penghui. Durability Evaluation of Cement Stabilized Gravel Base with Iron Tailings Sand in Cold Regions[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(5): 1812-1822.

Figures/Tables 14

Table 1 Technical indicators of P·O 42.5 cement

Project

Initial setting time/min

Final setting

time/min

Specific surface

area/（m²·kg^-1）

Fig.1 Appearance of iron tailings sand

Table 2 Passing percentage of iron tailings sand

Mesh size/mm	4.75	2.36	1.18	0.60	0.30	0.15	0.075
Passing percentage/%	100.00	100.00	98.71	91.16	55.08	10.71	2.62

Table 3 Main chemical composition of iron tailings sand

Composition	SiO₂	Fe₂O₃	Al₂O₃	CaO	MgO	Na₂O	SO₃	TiO₂
Mass fraction/%	55.162	12.397	12.697	8.578	5.785	2.940	0.068	2.227

Table 4 Gradation of cement stabilized gravel base

Mesh size/mm	26.50	19.00	16.00	13.20	9.50	4.75	2.36	1.18	0.60	0.30	0.15	0.075
Passing percentage/%	100.0	85.8	78.2	69.7	57.7	36.4	25.6	17.5	11.6	6.5	3.3	2.0

Table 5 Results of compaction test

Group	Maximum dry density/（g·cm^-3）	Optimum moisture content/%
T0	2.404	5.70
T20	2.422	5.92
T40	2.424	6.14
T60	2.433	6.25
T80	2.408	6.40

Fig.2 Influence of iron tailings sand content on 7 d unconfined compressive strength

Fig.3 Morphology comparison of interfacial transition zone between iron tailings sand and cement mortar

Fig.4 Comparison of dry shrinkage test results

Fig.5 Thermal shrinkage coefficient in different temperature ranges

Fig.6 Comparison of total thermal shrinkage strain

Fig.7 Results of quality loss test after freeze-thaw cycles

Fig.8 Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on unconfined compressive strength of cement stabilized gravel

Fig.9 Fatigue test results

References 23

[1]	CHAO X L， HAN C， SHAO C， et al. Recent advances in properties and application progress of cement-based materials with iron tailing［J］. Sustainability， 2024， 16（23）： 10631.
[2]	季　节，梁　犇，韩秉烨，等. 中国道路工程中土壤固化技术综述［J］. 交通运输工程学报， 2023， 23（2）： 47-66.
	JI J， LIANG B， HAN B Y， et al. Review on soil solidified technologies in road engineering in China［J］. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering， 2023， 23（2）： 47-66 （in Chinese）.
[3]	LIU Z Z， FENG T T， ZHU X Y， et al. Bird’s-eye view of recycled solid wastes in road engineering［J］. Journal of Road Engineering， 2024， 4（2）： 93-150.
[4]	GORAKHKI M H， BAREITHER C A. Unconfined compressive strength of synthetic and natural mine tailings amended with fly ash and cement［J］. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering， 2017， 143（7）： 04017017.
[5]	TALKERI A， RAVI SHANKAR A U. Alkali activated slag-fly ash concrete incorporating precious slag as fine aggregate for rigid pavements［J］. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering （English Edition）， 2022， 9（1）： 78-92.
[6]	WANG C H， LIU J K， CHEN S C， et al. Polyvinyl alcohol fiber cement-stabilized macadam： a review and performance evaluation［J］. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering （English Edition）， 2024， 11（3）： 406-423.
[7]	钱振东，许子健，闵一桐，等. 铜尾矿作沥青混合料填料的可行性与环境影响评估［J］. 长安大学学报（自然科学版）， 2025， 45（3）： 17-25.
	QIAN Z D， XU Z J， MIN Y T， et al. Feasibility and environmental impact assessment of copper tailings as asphalt mixture filler［J］. Journal of Chang’an University （Natural Science Edition）， 2025， 45（3）： 17-25 （in Chinese）.
[8]	马欣蕊，肖林林，崔佳祺，等. 铁尾矿泥对全尾矿混凝土强度及早期收缩性能的影响［J］. 硅酸盐通报， 2024， 43（8）： 2975-2983+2995.
	MA X R， XIAO L L， CUI J Q， et al. Influence of iron tailings mud on strength and early shrinkage performance of full tailings concrete［J］. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society， 2024， 43（8）： 2975-2983+2995 （in Chinese）.
[9]	王苗苗，李　峥. 铁尾矿砂混凝土耐久性能的试验研究［J］. 混凝土世界， 2021（4）： 68-70.
	WANG M M， LI Z. Experiment study on durability of iron tailings sand concrete［J］. China Concrete， 2021（4）： 68-70 （in Chinese）.
[10]	严　澔，郜梓克，晁先磊，等. 铁尾矿沥青混合料研究进展与性能评价［J］. 金属矿山， 2025（8）： 272-280.
	YAN H， GAO Z K， CHAO X L， et al. Research progress and performance evaluation of iron tailings asphalt mixtures［J］. Metal Mine， 2025（8）： 272-280 （in Chinese）.
[11]	晁先磊，杨幸，郜梓克，等. 铁尾矿砂沥青混合料工程应用及评价［J］. 交通世界， 2025（27）： 7-9.
	CHAO X L， YANG X， GAO Z K， et al. Application and evaluation of iron tailings sand asphalt mixture engineering［J］. TranspoWorld， 2025（27）： 7-9 （in Chinese）.
[12]	黄　伟，薛　葵，张子龙，等. 铁尾矿砂的研究与应用进展［J］. 硅酸盐通报， 2024， 43（10）： 3655-3665.
	HUANG W， XUE K， ZHANG Z L， et al. Research and application progress of iron tailings sand［J］. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society， 2024， 43（10）： 3655-3665 （in Chinese）.
[13]	马怀森，阙　云，丁　峰，等. 改良铁尾矿砂在高速公路路基中的应用研究［J］. 交通科技， 2022（5）： 25-29.
	MA H S， QUE Y， DING F， et al. Study on the application of improved iron tailings sand in highway subgrade［J］. Transportation Science & Technology， 2022（5）： 25-29 （in Chinese）.
[14]	王世伟，杨　松. 固化铁尾矿砂基层材料的工程应用可行性研究［J］. 公路， 2024， 69（10）： 69-74.
	WANG S W， YANG S. Feasibility study of application of solidified iron tailings sand base material in project practice［J］. Highway， 2024， 69（10）： 69-74 （in Chinese）.
[15]	李军卫，刘长明，单雪峰. 水泥改良铁尾矿砂路基填料的力学特性［J］. 矿产综合利用， 2021， 42（3）： 193-199.
	LI J W， LIU C M， SHAN X F. Research on mechanical properties of cement-improved iron tailings sand roadbed filler［J］. Multipurpose Utilization of Mineral Resources， 2021， 42（3）： 193-199 （in Chinese）.
[16]	刘晶磊，王一峰，王奥运，等. 土壤固化剂改良铁尾矿路用性能研究［J］. 公路， 2018， 63（4）： 24-29.
	LIU J L， WANG Y F， WANG A Y， et al. Research on road performance of using soil curing agent to improve iron tailings［J］. Highway， 2018， 63（4）： 24-29 （in Chinese）.
[17]	梁文先，李瑞娟，张孟星，等. HK-SA和水泥复掺固化铁尾矿砂的试验研究［J］. 金属矿山， 2023（6）： 268-272.
	LIANG W X， LI R J， ZHANG M X， et al. Experimental study on solidification of iron tailings sand with HK-SA and cement［J］. Metal Mine， 2023（6）： 268-272 （in Chinese）.
[18]	王洪国，苏纪壮，张　民，等. 振动搅拌对掺铁尾矿砂水泥稳定碎石混合料的影响研究［J］. 硅酸盐通报， 2021， 40（12）： 4209-4216.
	WANG H G， SU J Z， ZHANG M， et al. Effect of vibration mixing on iron tailing cement stabilized macadam mixture［J］. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society， 2021， 40（12）： 4209-4216 （in Chinese）.
[19]	薛登峰. 铁尾矿砂在国省干道水稳碎石基层的应用［J］. 山东交通科技， 2020（6）： 46-48+64.
	XUE D F. Research on application of iron tailings in water stable macadam base of national and provincial trunk roads［J］. Shandong Jiaotong Keji， 2020（6）： 46-48+64 （in Chinese）.
[20]	张立群，张学峰，崔宏环，等. 双掺再生水泥稳定碎石干缩性能研究［J］. 森林工程， 2022， 38（5）： 128-136.
	ZHANG L Q， ZHANG X F， CUI H H， et al. Study on dry shrinkage performance of binary recycled cement stabilized fragments［J］. Forest Engineering， 2022， 38（5）： 128-136 （in Chinese）.
[21]	万　磊，张　智，宋华松，等. 干湿循环对碱激发材料固化细铁尾矿砂强度特性的影响分析［J］. 硅酸盐通报， 2020， 39（7）： 2223-2231.
	WAN L， ZHANG Z， SONG H S， et al. Effect of drying and wetting cycles on strength characteristic of alkali-activated materials solidified fine iron tailings sand［J］. Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society， 2020， 39（7）： 2223-2231 （in Chinese）.
[22]	JI X P， SUN E Y， SUN Y L， et al. Study on crack resistance of cement-stabilized iron tailings［J］. International Journal of Pavement Engineering， 2023， 24（2）： 2124251.
[23]	褚　锋，苏纪壮，王瑞冰，等. 掺铁尾矿砂水泥稳定碎石混合料性能的影响研究［J］. 武汉理工大学学报（交通科学与工程版）， 2022， 46（5）： 893-897.
	CHU F， SU J Z， WANG R B， et al. Study on the influence of iron tailings sand cement stabilized macadam mixture［J］. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology （Transportation Science & Engineering）， 2022， 46（5）： 893-897 （in Chinese）.