Durability studies of lime stabilized clayey soils

The proper selection of type and concentration of the stabilization of a soil should consider the complex interaction between the mineralogy of the materials and additives, the presence or absence of moisture in soils and the long-term durability of the stabilization process. One measure of the durability of a stabilized material is to study the strength and volumetric strain potentials of the treated material by subjecting them to different wetting and drying cycles. In this research, two clays with known plasticity characteristics were considered. Stabilizer design was first performed based on strength and pH criterion. At these designed stabilizer dosage levels, samples were prepared and subjected to durability related wetting and drying cycles. At select cycles, mechanical tests including volume change measurements and strength tests were performed. Both volumetric stability and strength variations with respect to wetting and drying cycles were then analyzed. Influence of clay mineralogy and its impact on the mechanical performance of treated soils are explained. Importance of clay mineralogy on durability treatments is addressed.