Abstract
The main drying paths of the water retention curves of lime-treated soils were measured. Aggregate size effect on the water retention property was emphasised. Four soil powders with different maximum aggregate sizes (Dmax = 5, 2, 1 and 0.4 mm) were prepared and mixed with 2% quicklime (by weight of dry soil). Samples were prepared by static compaction at dry side of optimum water content (w = 17%) with a dry density of 1.65 Mg/m3. Suction measurement was performed by a dew-point hygrometer at different curing periods (t = 7, 28 and 90 days). The results obtained show that: i) aggregate size effect is insignificant on the water retention curve of untreated soil in the studied suction range (ca 500 kPa ~ 55 MPa); ii) lime treatment gradually improves the soil water retention capacity with the increasing of curing time; iii) aggregate size effect on water retention property of lime-treated soil becomes significant in the suction range from ca 860 kPa to 9 MPa on the long curing term: treated soils prepared with smaller aggregate size (S0.4 and S1) have a higher water retention capacity rather than soils prepared with larger aggregate size (S5).
Highlights
Lime treatment could effectively improve both the workability and mechanical behaviours of problematic soils [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The results obtained show that: i) aggregate size effect is insignificant on the water retention curve of untreated soil in the studied suction range; ii) lime treatment gradually improves the soil water retention capacity with the increasing of curing time; iii) aggregate size effect on water retention property of lime-treated soil becomes significant in the suction range from ca 860 kPa to 9 MPa on the long curing term: treated soils prepared with smaller aggregate size (S0.4 and S1) have a higher water retention capacity rather than soils prepared with larger aggregate size (S5)
Different soils with different aggregate sizes present a similar linear water retention curve in terms of water content in the semi-logarithmic scale. It indicates that aggregate size effect is insignificant for untreated soil during this measured suction range
Summary
Lime treatment could effectively improve both the workability and mechanical behaviours of problematic soils [1,2,3,4,5,6]. When quicklime (CaO) is added into humid soil and mixed together, hydration of quicklime takes place immediately with heat release. There are two main different reactions could take place in the soil-lime-water system: cation exchange in short curing time and pozzolanic process on the long term. Cation exchange induces the flocculation and agglomeration of soil particles, which modify the soil workability. Cementitious compounds generated in the pozzolanic process, significantly contribute to the strength gain by bonding the soil particles together.
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