Effect of curing temperature on the properties of ground granulated blast furnace slag-cement bentonite slurry

To investigate the curing temperature effect on the engineering properties of ground granulated blast furnace slag-cement bentonite (GGBS-CB) slurry for cutoff walls, the laboratory experiments including the setting time, unconfined compressive strength, and permeability tests were carried out. The mixing procedure for GGBS-CB slurry was as follows: (1) montmorillonite-based bentonite slurry was first fabricated and hydrated for four hours, and (2) cement or GGBS with cement was added to the bentonite slurry. The dosage range of GGBS was from 0 to 90 % of cement by mass fraction. The GGBS-CB slurry specimens were cured and stored in environmental chamber at temperature of 14 +/- 1, 21 +/- 1, 28 +/- 1 degrees C and humidity of 95 +/- 2% until target days. The highest average temperature of three seasons in South Korea was selected and used for the tests. The experimental results indicated that in early age (less than 28 days) of curing the engineering properties of GGBS-CB slurry were primarily affected by the curing temperature, whereas the replacement ratio of GGBS became a main factor to determine the properties of the slurry as the curing time increased.