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2026 Vol.42, Issue 1 Preview Page
Evaluation of Hydrophobic and Mechanical Behavior of Hydrophobized Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

소수화 처리된 모래질 수재슬래그의 소수성 및 역학적 거동 특성 평가

Yeong-Ung Han1
,
Jin-Hyung Kim2
,
Min-Jun Baek3
,
Seong-Wan Park4
,
Byeong-Su Kim5*
한 영웅1
,
김 진형2
,
백 민준3
,
박 성완4
,
김 병수5*
1Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook Univ.
2Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook Univ.
3Member, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook Univ.
4Member, Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook Univ.
5Member, Associate Prof., Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook Univ.
1정회원, 단국대학교 토목환경공학과 석사과정
2정회원, 단국대학교 토목환경공학과 석사과정
3정회원, 단국대학교 토목환경공학과 석사과정
4정회원, 단국대학교 토목환경공학과 교수
5정회원, 단국대학교 토목환경공학과 부교수
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 37-44
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Abstract

The increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events driven by climate change, together with the decreasing availability of natural aggregates, highlights the urgent need for sustainable geotechnical materials that can satisfy both hydraulic and mechanical performance requirements. This study investigates the engineering applicability of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), an industrial byproduct, after hydrophobic treatment for use as an impervious barrier layer in geotechnical structures. The hydrophobized GBFS exhibited excellent water repellency, with a water droplet penetration time exceeding 3,600 s (classified as “extremely water repellent”) a contact angle of up to 134.5° depending on the relative density, and a water infiltration head of 9.04 cm H2O. Direct shear tests revealed that the hydrophobic surface coating reduced interparticle interlocking, lowering the internal friction angle from 45.3° to 36.4°. Nevertheless, the final shear strength exceeded the standard design criterion for retaining wall foundations (ϕ > 35°), indicating sufficient mechanical stability without additional reinforcement. The results demonstrate that hydrophobized GBFS can satisfy both impermeability and geotechnical strength requirements, establishing it as a sustainable, high-performance substitute for natural aggregates in impervious layers and foundation ground materials.

Keywords
Granulated blast furnace slag
Hydrophobicity
Impervious layer
Shear strength
Slope stability

기후 변화에 따른 집중호우로 야기되는 비탈면 붕괴와 천연 골재 수급 감소 문제는 수리적·역학적 특성을 동시에 만족하는 지속가능한 대체 지반 재료 개발의 필요성을 높이고 있다. 본 연구에서는 산업부산물인 고로 수재슬래그에 주목하였고, 비탈면으로의 강우 침투 문제에 대응하기 위해 이 재료에 소수성을 부여하여 비탈면 내의 불투수성 차수층으로 활용하기 위한 공학적 특성을 평가하였다. 본 연구에서의 소수성시험 결과로부터, 소수화 처리된 수재슬래그는 물 침투 수두(WIH) 9.04cmH2O, 물방울 침투 시간(WDPT) 3,600초 이상의 극한 소수성 등급과 상대밀도에 따른 접촉각 측정 시험에서 최대 134.5°의 우수한 소수 성능을 나타냈다. 한편, 직접전단시험 결과로부터, 토립자 표면의 소수화 코팅으로 인해 입자 간 맞물림 효과가 감소하여 내부마찰각이 45.3°에서 36.4°로 약 20% 저하되었으나, 소수성재료의 감소된 내부마찰각은 국내의 도로 옹벽의 설계 기준(35°)을 상회하여 별도의 보강없이도 구조적 안정성을 확보할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 소수성 수재슬래그가 방수 성능과 역학적 성능을 동시에 만족시키며, 사면 차수층 및 기초지반용 재료로서 천연 골재를 대체할 수 있는 지속 가능한 고성능 지반 재료임을 입증하였다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 42
  • No :1
  • Pages :37-44
  • Received Date : 2025-12-01
  • Revised Date : 2026-01-02
  • Accepted Date : 2026-01-05
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.1.37
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