Laboratory Investigations to Determine the Effect of Lime Improvement of Soft Silty Soil

Abstract

Lime stabilization as a method for soil improvement is beneficial for number of important engineering properties, such as: strength, resistance to fracture, resilient properties and reduced swelling. This paper briefly describes the application of quicklime to stabilize soft soil. Many laboratory tests have been carried out on silty soil to determine the improvements for lime in varying percentages. The laboratory investigations for different lime contents preparing with optimum moisture content and sample curing under controlled conditions were carried out. The investigation of both treated and untreated soil are focused mainly on the strength parameters, changes in the plastic properties, compaction requirements, California Bearing Ratio and compressibility characteristics of the lime-soil mixtures. Significant improvement and stabilization of the silty soft soil has been observed for 4 percent of lime admixtures.