155 Figure 10- UCS (kPa) vs curing duration (days) (Khan & Shrive, 2026a) S = Soil, SC = Soil stabilized with Portland cement, SCD = Soil stabilized with Portland cement and Duraflex, CR means curing at 20°C and 100% RH and Lab means curing in the laboratory atmosphere. Reduction in porosity BET analysis BET N2 (Figure 11) confirmed a reduction in micropore volume and surface area, while mesopore connectivity decreased in SCD specimens, indicating effective pore filling by secondary hydration products. Increased matric suction (Figure 12) further demonstrated reduced pore water pressure and enhanced effective stress, consistent with unsaturated soil mechanics theory. Figure 2 indicates a clear shift toward reduced pore volume and surface area in Duraflex-treated samples, confirming densification at the microstructural level. Figure 3 further shows tThat this pore refinement translates into higher matric suction, reflecting improved water retention behaviour and increased effective stress, is shown in Figure 3. The combined mechanical and microstructural evidence confirms that Duraflex functions as a stabilization enhancer by refining pore structure, strengthening interparticle bonding, and improving long-term matrix integrity. These findings support its suitability for durable ground improvement applications where strength retention and reduced permeability are critical.
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