Influence of liquid limit and slaking on cement stabilized clayey admixtures

Abstract

Clayey soils, especially clayey soils with high or very high liquid limits (> 60%) often present difficulties in construction operations because they usually contain expansive clay minerals. However, the engineering properties of clay soils can be enhanced by the addition of either cement or lime, thereby producing an improved construction material. In this research, slake durability was related to the liquid limit and unconfined compressive strength of clayey admixtures. Three of the most important components in clay soils, namely, kaolinite, montmorillonite and quartz, were combined to make the clayey admixtures. A slaking value of 45% is suggested as identifying satisfactory stabilization. For clayey admixtures with liquid limit between 40% and 60%, this could be achieved with the addition of between 4% and 12% cement. Clayey admixtures with liquid limits over 60% could only achieve this with large uneconomical amounts of cement (> 12%).