Abstract: To better use aeolian sand as auxiliary cementitious material, we prepared specimens by grinding aeolian sand together with different activators respectively to test the compressive strength of cemented aeolian sand powder. Results demonstrated that the activation effect of alkali and alcohol-amine activators on aeolian sand powder is better than that of sulfate activator when 30% cement is replaced by aeolian sand powder in an identical proportion. Composite activator determined by orthogonal test could enhance the 7 d compressive strength ratio of the cemented sand specimen by 11% and the 28 d ratio by 13%. Furthermore, we found abundant interlaced fiber cluster C-S-H gel and slender columnar AFt crystal from the SEM images of the 28 d hydration products of aeolian sand powder. A spatial reticular structure is formed and pores are filled, which compacts the structure of the cemented sand specimen.

Key words: aeolian sand powder, activator, auxiliary cementitious material, activity, compressive strength, orthogonal test