A adoção de técnicas de melhoramento de solos é prática cada vez mais recorrente em obras geotécnicas, contudo, os critérios de dosagem e parâmetros de previsão do comportamento desses solos parecem não acompanhar a evolução tecnológica das referidas técnicas. O parâmetro de estado para areias (ψ) não consegue representar o comportamento de areias artificialmente cimentadas, por levar em consideração apenas a influência do índice de vazios e do estado de tensões. Propõe-se, neste estudo, instituir o índice porosidade/teor volumétrico de cimento (η/Civ) como um parâmetro de estado para areias artificialmente cimentadas, por ser um critério racional que relaciona a porosidade da mistura compactada com o teor volumétrico de cimento adicionado. A partir da utilização desse parâmetro, é possível calibrar a quantidade de cimento e a energia de compactação utilizada, a fim de proporcionar uma mistura que atenda aos requisitos de projeto e que seja viável de executar em obra com os recursos materiais e financeiros disponíveis. O programa experimental compreendeu a realização de 17 ensaios triaxiais, drenados e não drenados, analisados em conjunto com resultados já obtidos em estudos anteriores. Análises do comportamento tensão-deformação, variação volumétrica-deformação axial, geração de poropressão, trajetórias de tensões drenadas e não drenadas, envoltórias de resistência, comportamento tensão-dilatância, da aplicação da teoria do estado crítico e uma breve análise estatística embasaram a comprovação de que o parâmetro η/Civ é adequado para previsão do comportamento de corpos de prova de areia artificialmente cimentados. / The adoption of soil improvement techniques is becoming more frequent in geotechnical works, however, the dosage criteria and the parameters used to predict the soil behavior do not seem to follow the technological evolution of these techniques. The state parameter for sands (ψ) cannot represent the behavior of artificially cemented sands because it considers only the influence of the void ratio and the stress state. It is proposed to establish the porosity/volumetric content of cement (η/Civ) as a state parameter for artificially cemented sands, since it is a rational criterion which relates the porosity of the compacted mixture to the volumetric content of cement added. By using this parameter, it is possible to calibrate the amount of cement and the compaction energy used in order to provide a mixture that meets the design requirements and that is feasible to perform on site construction with the material and financial resources available there. The experimental program included the realization of 17 triaxial testes, performed in the drained and undrained conditions, analyzed simultaneously with other results obtained from previous studies. Analysis of stress-strain behavior, volumetric variation-axial strain, pore pressure development, drained and non-drained stress paths, resistance envelope, stress-dilatation behavior, the application of the critical state theory, and a brief statistical analysis supported that the η/Civ parameter is suitable for predicting the behavior of artificially cemented sand specimens.

A técnica de estabilização de solos através da incorporação de agentes cimentantes é uma opção eficaz e amplamente utilizada em obras de engenharia geotécnica. Portanto, são relevantes os estudos que contemplam aspectos ainda não bem compreendidos relativos aos efeitos causados pela adição de agentes cimentantes na porosidade dos materiais obtidos e, por consequência, nas propriedades de desempenho destas misturas. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho pretende contribuir no que tange ao conhecimento da estrutura de poros de solos compactados tratados com cal e cimento e sua relação com o comportamento hidráulico destes materiais. Os solos utilizados têm granulometria arenosa e areno-siltosa. As variáveis de controle envolvidas nas análises são os teores dos agentes de cimentação empregados (cal e cimento), densidades de compactação e tempos de cura (para amostras com cal). Para a caracterização dos sistemas de poros empregou-se porosimetria por intrusão de Mercúrio e, de forma complementar, na quantificação das porosidades globais, microtomografia computadorizada de raios x. Um permeâmetro de parede flexível foi utilizado para as determinações das condutividades hidráulicas das amostras estudadas através de ensaios de carga constante. Para as amostras de matriz arenosa pura, os volumes de intrusão indicaram maior refinamento da rede porosa, sob efeito da cimentação, para as condições mais densas de moldagem. Para as amostras de matriz areno-siltosa, ao se variarem as condições de cimentação, e fixando-se o peso específico aparente seco, os volumes intrudidos indicaram o refinamento dos poros quando da adição de cal ou cimento em comparação à condição não cimentada. Com respeito à análise da influência do tempo de cura para as amostras moldadas com cal, os resultados sugeriram que a adição de cal (aos 7 dias de cura) não causou variação da porosidade, comparada à condição sem cimentação, mas aos 28 dias foi possível perceber o aumento da porosidade global e, com o passar do tempo (180 dias) verificou-se a redução da porosidade. O refinamento dos poros se tornou cada vez mais pronunciado conforme a evolução do tempo. Para a matriz arenosa, foi identificado que a adição de cimento e a variação da porosidade de moldagem não implicaram em mudanças mensuráveis no valor da condutividade hidráulica, quando comparadas às condições com e sem cimento. Para as amostras da matriz areno-siltosa, sob diferentes condições analisadas (adição de cal aos diferentes tempos investigados e adição de cimento), foi evidenciado que o peso específico aparente seco de moldagem causou influência significativa sobre a condutividade hidráulica. Foram obtidos bons ajustes para as correlações condutividade hidráulica versus relação porosidade/teor volumétrico do agente cimentante ao se aplicar a potência de 0,032 sobre o parâmetro teor volumétrico do agente cimentante. As curvas obtidas apresentaram relações distintas e sinalizaram aspectos do comportamento do material: aumento da condutividade hidráulica para 28 dias de cura da cal, em relação a 7 dias; para 180 dias e amostras nas condições menos densas, não ocorreu modificação em relação à idade de 28 dias, mas na condição mais densa o parâmetro investigado tornou-se sensível às modificações promovidas por efeitos do tempo de cura; ainda, para as amostras moldadas com cimento, ocorreu redução mais pronunciada da condutividade hidráulica relacionada às condições mais densas de moldagem. / The soil stabilization technique which incorporates cementing agents is an effective alternative and widely used in geotechnical engineering works. Therefore, research on the aspects not well understood related to the effects caused by the addition of cementing agents on the porosity of the obtained materials and, consequently, on the performance properties of cemented blends, are relevant. In this sense, this study aims to contribute improving the knowledge on the pore structure of compacted soils treated with lime and cement, as well as to the relationship between pore structure and the hydraulic behavior of these materials. The used soils have a sandy and sandy-silty grain size distribution. The studied variables involved in the analysis are: the cement and lime contents; compaction density; and curing time (for samples with lime). To characterize the pore systems it was employed the Mercury intrusion porosimetry test and, additionally, in order to quantify the global porosities, it was used x-ray computed microtomography tests. A flexible wall permeameter was used to determinate the hydraulic conductivity of the samples through constant head tests. For sandy samples, the intrusion volumes indicated a more significant reduction of the porous media, under the effect of the cementation, when compacted in denser conditions. For the sandy-silt samples, it was observed that by maintaining the specific dry unit weight constant and by varying the cementation conditions, the intruded volumes indicated a reduction of the pores after the addition of lime or cement compared to the uncemented samples. With regards to the influence of the curing time for samples treated with lime, the results suggested that the addition of lime after 7 days of curing did not cause variation in porosity, compared to condition without cementing additions; however, after 28 days of curing it was observed a slight increase on the overall porosity and, after 180 days of curing, it was observed a reduction of the porosity. The reduction of the pores became more significant with the curing time. Related to the sandy soil, the results indicated that addition of cement to the soil and variations on the molding porosity did not result in measurable changes in the hydraulic conductivity, when compared the conditions with and without cement. For the sandy-silt samples, which were analyzed under different conditions (addition of lime and different curing times, and addition of cement), it was shown that the specific dry unit weight caused significant influence on the hydraulic conductivity. It was observed a satisfactory correlation between hydraulic conductivity and porosity/cementing agent ratio when the volumetric cementing agent content is to the power of 0,032. The obtained curves showed distinct relationships and indicated the following aspects of the material behaviour: the increasing of the hydraulic conductivity after 28 days of curing of the sample with lime, compared to 7 days of curing; after 180 days of curing and under low compaction conditions, it was observed no changes when compared to the samples tested after 28 days of curing; however, in the densest condition the investigated parameter became dependent on the curing time; moreover, for the samples molded with cement, it was observed a more significant reduction of the hydraulic conductivity related to denser molded conditions.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / Soil Stiffness is an important parameter for any geotechnical engineering design. In laboratory tests it can be derived from stress-strain curves or from dynamic measurement based on wave propagation theory. The second method is a more accurate and direct method for measuring stiffness at very small strains. Until now dynamic measurements have usually been obtained manually from the triaxial test. Attempts have been made to automate the procedure but have apparently failed due to the high level of variability in dynamic measurements. Moreover, triaxial tests of soil can be very lengthy and manual dynamic measurements can be very tedious and impractical for long stress-path tests. In this research a computer program has been developed to automate the stiffness measurement (using bender elements) based on the cross- correlation technique. In this method the program records all the peaks and corresponding arrival times in the cross-correlation signal during the test. The stiffness is calculated and displayed on the screen continuously. The Bender Element enabled to get the small strain shear modulus. An arbitrary “Chirp” waveform of 4 kHz frequency was used for this purpose. Subsequently Bender Element test results were checked by ‘Sine’ waveforms of frequencies 5kHz to 20kHz, as well as by manual inspection of the arrival time. This thesis discusses the method and some of the difficulties in truly automating the process. Finally some results from a number of stress path tests on uncemented and cemented calcareous sediments are presented. Bender elements have been used by many researchers to determine the shear modulus at small strain. Most previous studies have used visual observation of arrival time, which is time consuming and often requires some judgement from the operator. This thesis will describe the use of cross-correlation as a method for automation of Gmax measurement. Cross-correlation has been claimed to be unreliable in the past. However, it will be shown that provided several peaks in the cross-correlation signal are monitored it is possible to follow the variation of Gmax throughout consolidation and shearing. The measurement can be made at regular intervals within the software controlling a stress-path apparatus. Details of the apparatus used and practical considerations including selection of waveform and frequency are discussed. A series of drained cyclic triaxial tests was carried out on artificially cemented and uncemented calcareous soil of dry unit weights 13, 15, and 17 kN/m3 and sheared with constant effective confining stress 300 kPa. Gypsum cement contents of 10%, 20% and 30% of the dry soil weight were used. In addition a series of stress path tests were performed on Toyuora sand samples. Results will be presented for two uncemented and one cemented sand. In addition to the bender elements, all tests had internal instrumentation to monitor axial and lateral strains. Results will be presented for Toyura sand to show that the measurements are consistent with those obtained by other methods. Results will also be presented for carbonate sand subjected to a wide range of stress paths. Finally, results will be presented for the carbonate sand cemented with gypsum. The degradation of Gmax of the cemented soil subjected to variety of monotonic and cyclic stress-paths is presented. Analysis of the results includes assessment of the factors influencing Gmax for uncemented sand. Preliminary analysis indicates that in order of importance these are the mean effective stress, the stress history, void ratio and stress ratio. For cemented sand, Gmax is initially constant and independent of stress path. After yielding the modulus degrades, becoming increasingly stress level dependent and eventually approaches the value for uncemented sand. Factors influencing the rate of degradation are discussed. For the Toyuora sand samples the effects of end restraint on the stress-strain response at small strains were investigated. The conventional method of mounting triaxial specimen has the effect of introducing friction between sample and end platen during a compression test. This inevitably restricts free lateral movement of the specimen ends. Frictional restraint at the sample ends causes the formation of 'dead zones' adjacent to the platens, resulting in non-uniform distribution of stress and strain (and of pore pressure if undrained). On the other hand the specimen with 'free' ends maintain an approximate cylindrical shape instead of barrelling when subjected to compression, resulting in a more uniform stress distribution.

This thesis, comprising 5 separate studies, is concerned with fixation of prosthetic components in total hip arthroplasty. The results and conclusions of the studies fol-low; The initial stability of femoral revision components, the long cementless PCA stem and the Exeter standard stem cemented in a bed of impacted bone graft, was com-pared in an experimental study. The PCA stem was more stable than the Exeter stem. However, for both stems initial stability may not be sufficient to allow bone ingrowth. Initial fixation is especially vulnerable to torsion. Identical femoral stems with or without HA-coating were compared in a prospec-tive randomized clinical trial. The long-term stable fixation of a cementless Link RS femoral component was improved by application of hydroxyapatite coating to the femoral stem. In a clinical study the method of extensive impaction of morsellized bone allograft and a hydroxyapatite-coated cementless Mallory-Head acetabular component was found to be advantageous for acetabular revision in the presence of contained or acetabular wall defects. The limited contact between the HA-coated implant and living host bone did not seem to compromise long-term stable fixation. Two different cup designs were compared in a prospective randomized RSA study. At 3 years after implantation the cemented low profile Lubinus FAL cup performed as well as the cemented Lubinus Standard cup in terms of migration and polyethyl-ene wear. In a study of the relationship between radiolucent lines and migration the Lubinus FAL cup displayed more radiolucent lines in the cement bone interface than the Lubinus Standard cup but no difference in migration was found. Early appearance of such radiolucent lines represents an unspecific finding without reliable correla-tion to 3-year migration of the acetabular component.

Current design of cemented paste backfill (CPB) barricades tends to be of unknown conservativeness due to limited understanding of their behaviour. Previous work done to characterize barricade response has not accounted for the effects of the surrounding rock stiffness, which can have significant impact on the development of axial forces which enhance capacity via compressive membrane action. Parametric analyses were performed with the finite element analysis program Augustus-2 to determine the effects of various material and geometric properties on barricade capacity. Equations based on Timoshenko and Boussinesq solutions were developed to model rock stiffness effects based on boundary material properties. An iterative simulation process was used to account for secondary moment effects as a proof of concept. It was found that, for a range of typical rock types, barricade capacity varied significantly. The commonly made design assumption of a fully rigid boundary resulted in unconservative overpredictions of strength.

Current design of cemented paste backfill (CPB) barricades tends to be of unknown conservativeness due to limited understanding of their behaviour. Previous work done to characterize barricade response has not accounted for the effects of the surrounding rock stiffness, which can have significant impact on the development of axial forces which enhance capacity via compressive membrane action. Parametric analyses were performed with the finite element analysis program Augustus-2 to determine the effects of various material and geometric properties on barricade capacity. Equations based on Timoshenko and Boussinesq solutions were developed to model rock stiffness effects based on boundary material properties. An iterative simulation process was used to account for secondary moment effects as a proof of concept. It was found that, for a range of typical rock types, barricade capacity varied significantly. The commonly made design assumption of a fully rigid boundary resulted in unconservative overpredictions of strength.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / Soil Stiffness is an important parameter for any geotechnical engineering design. In laboratory tests it can be derived from stress-strain curves or from dynamic measurement based on wave propagation theory. The second method is a more accurate and direct method for measuring stiffness at very small strains. Until now dynamic measurements have usually been obtained manually from the triaxial test. Attempts have been made to automate the procedure but have apparently failed due to the high level of variability in dynamic measurements. Moreover, triaxial tests of soil can be very lengthy and manual dynamic measurements can be very tedious and impractical for long stress-path tests. In this research a computer program has been developed to automate the stiffness measurement (using bender elements) based on the cross- correlation technique. In this method the program records all the peaks and corresponding arrival times in the cross-correlation signal during the test. The stiffness is calculated and displayed on the screen continuously. The Bender Element enabled to get the small strain shear modulus. An arbitrary “Chirp” waveform of 4 kHz frequency was used for this purpose. Subsequently Bender Element test results were checked by ‘Sine’ waveforms of frequencies 5kHz to 20kHz, as well as by manual inspection of the arrival time. This thesis discusses the method and some of the difficulties in truly automating the process. Finally some results from a number of stress path tests on uncemented and cemented calcareous sediments are presented. Bender elements have been used by many researchers to determine the shear modulus at small strain. Most previous studies have used visual observation of arrival time, which is time consuming and often requires some judgement from the operator. This thesis will describe the use of cross-correlation as a method for automation of Gmax measurement. Cross-correlation has been claimed to be unreliable in the past. However, it will be shown that provided several peaks in the cross-correlation signal are monitored it is possible to follow the variation of Gmax throughout consolidation and shearing. The measurement can be made at regular intervals within the software controlling a stress-path apparatus. Details of the apparatus used and practical considerations including selection of waveform and frequency are discussed. A series of drained cyclic triaxial tests was carried out on artificially cemented and uncemented calcareous soil of dry unit weights 13, 15, and 17 kN/m3 and sheared with constant effective confining stress 300 kPa. Gypsum cement contents of 10%, 20% and 30% of the dry soil weight were used. In addition a series of stress path tests were performed on Toyuora sand samples. Results will be presented for two uncemented and one cemented sand. In addition to the bender elements, all tests had internal instrumentation to monitor axial and lateral strains. Results will be presented for Toyura sand to show that the measurements are consistent with those obtained by other methods. Results will also be presented for carbonate sand subjected to a wide range of stress paths. Finally, results will be presented for the carbonate sand cemented with gypsum. The degradation of Gmax of the cemented soil subjected to variety of monotonic and cyclic stress-paths is presented. Analysis of the results includes assessment of the factors influencing Gmax for uncemented sand. Preliminary analysis indicates that in order of importance these are the mean effective stress, the stress history, void ratio and stress ratio. For cemented sand, Gmax is initially constant and independent of stress path. After yielding the modulus degrades, becoming increasingly stress level dependent and eventually approaches the value for uncemented sand. Factors influencing the rate of degradation are discussed. For the Toyuora sand samples the effects of end restraint on the stress-strain response at small strains were investigated. The conventional method of mounting triaxial specimen has the effect of introducing friction between sample and end platen during a compression test. This inevitably restricts free lateral movement of the specimen ends. Frictional restraint at the sample ends causes the formation of 'dead zones' adjacent to the platens, resulting in non-uniform distribution of stress and strain (and of pore pressure if undrained). On the other hand the specimen with 'free' ends maintain an approximate cylindrical shape instead of barrelling when subjected to compression, resulting in a more uniform stress distribution.

A fim de avaliar a contribuição das ligações cimentantes no comportamento tensão-deformação dos solos cimentados, bem como quantificar a variação das tensões de início de plastificação e incremento de tensão de plastificação em função do índice de vazios de cura, foram realizados dezoito ensaios de compressão isotrópica em amostras artificialmente cimentadas curadas com diferentes tensões confinantes, índices de vazios e teores de cimento. As amostras foram inicialmente adensadas a várias tensões confinantes ao longo da linha de compressão normal do solo sem cimentação, simulando a formação de elementos de solos em diferentes profundidades de um depósito sedimentar cimentado. Após o adensamento, as amostras eram curadas para posterior aplicação de incrementos de tensão isotrópica. Complementarmente, dezenove ensaios triaxiais drenados foram realizados em amostras artificialmente cimentadas curadas sob diferentes tensões confinantes e índices de vazios de forma a analisar as modificações dos parâmetros de resistência, deformabilidade e plastificação em função do índice de vazios e tensão de cura. Por final, um novo modelo matemático foi proposto para simular os ensaios isotrópicos das amostras curadas com diferentes índices de vazios e teores de cura, descrevendo o comportamento teórico dos elementos de solo situados nas diferentes profundidades do depósito fictício de solo cimentado. A capacidade do modelo de simular os resultados dos ensaios isotrópicos para uma gama ampla de índice de vazios de cura e teores de cimento também foi apresentada. Comentários acerca das respostas obtidas com simulações de amostras curadas a altos e baixos índices de vazios, e solicitadas a elevadas tensões isotrópicas, também são apresentadas juntamente com uma análise dos três parâmetros adicionais requeridos pelo modelo em relação ao modelo Cam Clay: um parâmetro de medida de nível de cimentação, um parâmetro definidor do tipo de comportamento da estrutura cimentante (rígido, rígido-plástico, linear, etc.), e um parâmetro que relaciona a magnitude das tensões da estrutura cimentante com o nível de cimentação da amostra. / To evaluate the contribution of cementation on the stress-strain behaviour of cemented soils, as well as to quantify the variation of the initial yielding stress and yielding stress increment based on the curing void ration, a series of eighteen isotropic compression tests were performed en artificially cemented samples cured under different confining stresses, void ratio and cement content. The samples were initially consolidated to different stresses on the normal compression line of the non-cemented soil, in order to simulate the soil formation at different depths in cemented sedimentary deposits. After consolidated, the samples were cured and then isotropic increments of tension were applied. Complementary, nineteen drained triaxial tests were performed on artificially cemented samples cured under different confining stresses and void ratio in order to analyze the modification on the shear strength parameters, deformability and yielding based on the void ratio and curing stress. At the end, a new mathematical model was proposed to simulate the isotropical tests performed on samples cured with different void ratio and cement content, describing the theorical behavior of the soil elements situated on different depths of a fictitious deposit of cement soil. The model’s ability to simulate the results of the isotropic tests performed for a wide range of curing void ratio and cement was also presented. Comments about the simulations of samples cured with low and high void ratios and consolidated to high isotropic stresses are also presented together with an analysis of the three additional parameters required by the model in relation to Cam Clay model: a parameter measuring the cementation level, a parameter defining the kind of cementing structure behaviour (rigid, rigid-plastic, linear, etc.) and a parameter that relates the stress magnitude of the cementing structure with the cementation level of the sample.

A técnica de estabilização de solos através da incorporação de agentes cimentantes é uma opção eficaz e amplamente utilizada em obras de engenharia geotécnica. Portanto, são relevantes os estudos que contemplam aspectos ainda não bem compreendidos relativos aos efeitos causados pela adição de agentes cimentantes na porosidade dos materiais obtidos e, por consequência, nas propriedades de desempenho destas misturas. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho pretende contribuir no que tange ao conhecimento da estrutura de poros de solos compactados tratados com cal e cimento e sua relação com o comportamento hidráulico destes materiais. Os solos utilizados têm granulometria arenosa e areno-siltosa. As variáveis de controle envolvidas nas análises são os teores dos agentes de cimentação empregados (cal e cimento), densidades de compactação e tempos de cura (para amostras com cal). Para a caracterização dos sistemas de poros empregou-se porosimetria por intrusão de Mercúrio e, de forma complementar, na quantificação das porosidades globais, microtomografia computadorizada de raios x. Um permeâmetro de parede flexível foi utilizado para as determinações das condutividades hidráulicas das amostras estudadas através de ensaios de carga constante. Para as amostras de matriz arenosa pura, os volumes de intrusão indicaram maior refinamento da rede porosa, sob efeito da cimentação, para as condições mais densas de moldagem. Para as amostras de matriz areno-siltosa, ao se variarem as condições de cimentação, e fixando-se o peso específico aparente seco, os volumes intrudidos indicaram o refinamento dos poros quando da adição de cal ou cimento em comparação à condição não cimentada. Com respeito à análise da influência do tempo de cura para as amostras moldadas com cal, os resultados sugeriram que a adição de cal (aos 7 dias de cura) não causou variação da porosidade, comparada à condição sem cimentação, mas aos 28 dias foi possível perceber o aumento da porosidade global e, com o passar do tempo (180 dias) verificou-se a redução da porosidade. O refinamento dos poros se tornou cada vez mais pronunciado conforme a evolução do tempo. Para a matriz arenosa, foi identificado que a adição de cimento e a variação da porosidade de moldagem não implicaram em mudanças mensuráveis no valor da condutividade hidráulica, quando comparadas às condições com e sem cimento. Para as amostras da matriz areno-siltosa, sob diferentes condições analisadas (adição de cal aos diferentes tempos investigados e adição de cimento), foi evidenciado que o peso específico aparente seco de moldagem causou influência significativa sobre a condutividade hidráulica. Foram obtidos bons ajustes para as correlações condutividade hidráulica versus relação porosidade/teor volumétrico do agente cimentante ao se aplicar a potência de 0,032 sobre o parâmetro teor volumétrico do agente cimentante. As curvas obtidas apresentaram relações distintas e sinalizaram aspectos do comportamento do material: aumento da condutividade hidráulica para 28 dias de cura da cal, em relação a 7 dias; para 180 dias e amostras nas condições menos densas, não ocorreu modificação em relação à idade de 28 dias, mas na condição mais densa o parâmetro investigado tornou-se sensível às modificações promovidas por efeitos do tempo de cura; ainda, para as amostras moldadas com cimento, ocorreu redução mais pronunciada da condutividade hidráulica relacionada às condições mais densas de moldagem. / The soil stabilization technique which incorporates cementing agents is an effective alternative and widely used in geotechnical engineering works. Therefore, research on the aspects not well understood related to the effects caused by the addition of cementing agents on the porosity of the obtained materials and, consequently, on the performance properties of cemented blends, are relevant. In this sense, this study aims to contribute improving the knowledge on the pore structure of compacted soils treated with lime and cement, as well as to the relationship between pore structure and the hydraulic behavior of these materials. The used soils have a sandy and sandy-silty grain size distribution. The studied variables involved in the analysis are: the cement and lime contents; compaction density; and curing time (for samples with lime). To characterize the pore systems it was employed the Mercury intrusion porosimetry test and, additionally, in order to quantify the global porosities, it was used x-ray computed microtomography tests. A flexible wall permeameter was used to determinate the hydraulic conductivity of the samples through constant head tests. For sandy samples, the intrusion volumes indicated a more significant reduction of the porous media, under the effect of the cementation, when compacted in denser conditions. For the sandy-silt samples, it was observed that by maintaining the specific dry unit weight constant and by varying the cementation conditions, the intruded volumes indicated a reduction of the pores after the addition of lime or cement compared to the uncemented samples. With regards to the influence of the curing time for samples treated with lime, the results suggested that the addition of lime after 7 days of curing did not cause variation in porosity, compared to condition without cementing additions; however, after 28 days of curing it was observed a slight increase on the overall porosity and, after 180 days of curing, it was observed a reduction of the porosity. The reduction of the pores became more significant with the curing time. Related to the sandy soil, the results indicated that addition of cement to the soil and variations on the molding porosity did not result in measurable changes in the hydraulic conductivity, when compared the conditions with and without cement. For the sandy-silt samples, which were analyzed under different conditions (addition of lime and different curing times, and addition of cement), it was shown that the specific dry unit weight caused significant influence on the hydraulic conductivity. It was observed a satisfactory correlation between hydraulic conductivity and porosity/cementing agent ratio when the volumetric cementing agent content is to the power of 0,032. The obtained curves showed distinct relationships and indicated the following aspects of the material behaviour: the increasing of the hydraulic conductivity after 28 days of curing of the sample with lime, compared to 7 days of curing; after 180 days of curing and under low compaction conditions, it was observed no changes when compared to the samples tested after 28 days of curing; however, in the densest condition the investigated parameter became dependent on the curing time; moreover, for the samples molded with cement, it was observed a more significant reduction of the hydraulic conductivity related to denser molded conditions.

A técnica de solo cimento se apresenta como uma ferramenta eficaz no melhoramento de distintos solos, adequando-os às necessidades da engenharia geotécnica. Tal tratamento do solo se aplica, por exemplo, na construção de bases para plataformas rodo-ferroviárias, camada de suporte para fundações superficiais, na prevenção da liquefação de solos granulares em condições fofas, no encapsulamento de solos contaminados e como barreiras de contenção de contaminação. Dessa forma, o presente estudo visa quantificar a influência da quantidade do cimento e da porosidade em relação ao comportamento mecânico das misturas de solos granulares com cimento. Assim, ensaios de resistência à compressão simples, resistência à compressão diametral, ensaios com bender elements e ensaios triaxiais foram realizados com o objetivo de obter uma metodologia de dosagem de solos granulares com adição de cimento. Para tal, foram utilizados um solo artificial areno-pedregulhoso, um solo arenoso grosso de origem granítica, um solo arenoso fino de origem basáltica, um solo arenoso fino de origem granítica e por último, uma areia fina uniforme, estes últimos três materiais com granulometria semelhante, mas com mineralogia e formato de grãos distintos. Em todos os ensaios foram utilizados cimento Portland CP–V (alta resistência inicial), como agente cimentante e água destilada. Corpos de prova cilíndricos foram moldados com distintos teores de cimento e porosidade. Os ensaios de resistência foram realizados após 7 dias de cura em ambiente com temperatura e umidade controlada. E os ensaios com bender elements foram realizados ao longo do tempo de cura, até 7 dias. Por último foi realizada a análise e comparação de todos os dados obtidos juntamente com outros materiais já estudados, no intuito de aprimorar o entendimento da técnica e da metodologia de dosagem de solo cimento. / The soil cement technique itself is an effective tool in the improvement of different soils, adapting them to the needs of geotechnical engineering. Such treatment of the soils might be used in the construction of road subgrades, railway platform subgrades, support layers for shallow foundations, in the encapsulation of contaminated soils in liquefaction prevention of loose granular soils and in barriers for containment of contamination. Thus, this study aimed at measuring the influence of the amount of cement and porosity on the mechanical behavior of granular soils – cement mixtures. Thus, unconfined compression, Brazilian tensile, bender elements and triaxial tests were carried out in order to obtain a dosage methodology for granular soils treated with cement. To this end, an artificial sand-gravel soil, a fine sand soil of basaltic origin, a fine sand soil of granitic origin and lastly, a coarse sandy soil, also of granitic origin were used. Early strength Portland cement was used as cementing agent, as well as distilled water. Cylindrical specimens were cast with different levels of cement and porosity. Strength tests were performed after 7 days curing in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity. Assays were performed using bender elements throughout the curing time, up to 7 days. Finally, a full analysis was performed using data obtained in present work, together with results of other granular soils treated with cement obtained through a literature review, in order to improve understanding of soil cement technique and enhance a dosage methodology of soil cement.