Publications by authors named "Dallas N Little"

This research addresses interaction mechanisms of water-soluble polymers used as soil mineral stabilizers via atomistic classical molecular dynamics (MD). Specifically, this study addresses polyelectrolyte interactions with kaolinite, a ubiquitous clay mineral, in soils. The two water-soluble polymeric species evaluated are PSS: poly(4-sodium styrenesulfonate) and PDADMAC: poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride).

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Hydrated lime is widely used as a mineral filler to improve several properties of bituminous materials such as reducing the susceptibility of the composite to moisture-induced damage. Although experimental evidence supports the efficacy of using hydrated lime as a mineral filler, the molecular scale mechanism of reactivity of hydrated lime within the bitumen to reduce moisture damage is not understood. This is important when considering the durability of structural applications of bituminous materials such as asphalt concrete pavements subjected to both environmental and loading extremes.

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Shrink-swell soils are predominant in various parts of the parts of the world. Lime has been extensively used to reduce the shrink-swell mechanism as it chemically reacts with soil minerals forming pozzolanic products such as calcite and calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H). Conventionally, whether chemical treatment of soils results in effective pozzolanic stabilization reactions is determined anecdotally through engineering tests including unconfined compressive strength, plasticity index (PI), and pH tests.

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