Author(s): Hao Meng; Dawei Guan; Haifei Sun
Linked Author(s): Dawei Guan
Keywords: Solidified dredged soil Scour countermeasure Mechanical properties anti-scour properties
Abstract: As the offshore wind power industry rapidly develops, more wind power projects are entering the maintenance phase. A key challenge in maintaining these projects is preventing and reducing the expansion of scour pits around wind turbine foundations and effectively restoring these areas. The most used scour countermeasures still depend on high-quality backfill materials like riprap, which are non-renewable and becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. Dredged soil, a byproduct of routine port and waterway maintenance, is known for its diverse sources and low cost. Using dredged soil as a protective backfill presents an innovative solution for sustainable development and efficient waste resource management. Solidified marine dredged soil (SMDS) improves the load-bearing capacity, stability, and other engineering properties of weak soil by incorporating solidifying agents. It outperforms traditional scour protection methods and offers significant advantages. However, few studies have examined the properties of SMDS when applied in marine environments. To address this research gap, this study investigates the mechanical and anti-scour properties of solidified dredged soil through comparative experiments. The soil’s unconfined compressive strength and critical incipient velocity were measured under varying admixture ratios, curing ages, and curing conditions. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe microstructural changes in samples, providing insights into how different variables influence the mechanical properties of the soil. Finally, the anti-scour mechanism of the soil was analyzed based on results from anti-scour tests.
Year: 2025