Abstract: The integrated physicochemical approach, which combines flocculation, solidification, and vacuum preloading, presents an efficient strategy for the resource utilization of slurry-like mud. To address the limited understanding of the development of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) in treated slurry-like mud, this study systematically conducted unconfined compressive strength tests. The investigation primarily focused on examining the influence of curing age, preloading stress, equivalent initial water content, and binder dosage on the strength characteristics during the early to medium stages. The test results unveiled distinct relationships: UCS exhibits rapid growth during the initial curing stages, followed by a gradual deceleration in the growth rate. Elevated preloading stress induces a nearly linear increase in strength, whereas an increased binder dosage significantly enhances UCS. Conversely, a higher equivalent initial water content diminishes the strength. Based on a rigorous analysis and fitting of the experimental data, this research developed a novel hyperbolic strength development model. This model uniquely incorporates the effects of curing age, preloading stress, equivalent initial water content, and binder dosage as key governing parameters. The comprehensive model offers a valuable theoretical framework for predicting the strength behavior of modified fluid mud treated by this physicochemical composite method in practical engineering applications.

Key words: slurry-like mud, physicochemical combined method, flocculation, solidification, preloading stress, strength development model