Delayed compaction effect on the strength and dynamic properties of clay treated with lime

Abstract

The constructions of engineering structures such as airports, highways and railway on clayey soils may create many problems. The economic losses and damages caused by these soils have led researchers to do many studies using different chemical additives for the stabilization of them. Lime is a popular additive used to stabilize the clayey soils. When the base course is stabilized by mixing with an additive, inevitable delays may occur during compaction due to reasons like insufficient workers, breakdown of compaction equipment, etc. The main purpose of this study is to research the effect of compaction delay time (7 days) on the strength, compaction, and dynamic properties of a clay soil stabilized with lime content of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15% by dry weight of soil. Compaction characteristics of these mixes were determined immediately after mixing, and after 7 days from the end of mixing process. Within this context, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) under the various curing periods (uncured, 7 and 28 days) and dynamic triaxial tests were performed on the compacted specimens. The results of UCS and dynamic triaxial tests showed that delayed compaction on the strength of the lime-stabilized clay soil were significantly effective. Especially with the lime content of 9%, the increase in the shear modulus (G) and UCS of 28 days curing were more prominent after 7 days mellowing period. Because of the complex forms of hysteresis loops caused by the lime additive, the damping ratio (D) values differed from the trends presented in the literature and showed a scattered relationship.