Assessing the effect of moulding water content on the behaviour of lime-stabilised an expansive soil

ABSTRACT

There are several factors that affect the efficiency of soil stabilisation and their strength gain. In fact, the proportion of mixing is one of these factors which include mixing conditions, degree and timing of mixing, the quantity of hardening agent and moulding water content. An experimental study was undertaken in order to assess the effect of moulding water content (MWC) on some geotechnical properties of lime-stabilised an expansive soil. Lime was mixed with the studied soil within the range of 0% to 8%. All samples were performed according to three different conditions at different curing periods. The obtained results showed that the increase in lime content reduces the maximum dry density (MDD) and increases the optimum moisture content (OMC) where the increase in lime content causes a decrease in the specific gravity (Gs) with an increase in the void ratio. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of lime-treated high plastic clay increases with increasing lime content for the different conditions. Also, samples prepared at OMC and MDD develop very high UCS values compared to those prepared with a dry and wet side of optimum.

KEYWORDS:

• Expansive soil
• lime
• moulding water content
• specific gravity compaction
• unconfined compressive strength
• stabilisation

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the head of civil engineering department and the laboratory engineers of Belhadj Bouchaib University of Aïn-Temouchent for their contribution to the laboratory tests and the carrying out of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the General Directorate for Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT) of the Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.