Engineering Behavior of Lime-Treated Louisiana Subgrade Soil

Abstract

Lime stabilization is often used to treat subgrade soils when they are soft and cohesive in nature. A study was conducted to investigate the engineering behavior, including the resilient and strength behaviors, of a lime-treated subgrade soil. The lime treatment procedure was adapted from the specifications of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Silty clay, a soil often found in Louisiana subgrades, is used as a base soil. A summary of various engineering properties of a lime-treated soil from resilient modulus, unconfined compression strength, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests conducted at five moisture content and dry density levels is provided. Tests were also performed on the raw soil without lime treatment, and these results were compared with those of tests with the lime-treated soil. The comparisons indicate that the present lime treatment method results in an increase in strength and resilient modulus properties and a decrease in plasticity characteristics and plastic strains. A regression model with three constants was used to analyze the resilient modulus test results. The model constants are presented as functions of soil properties. Resilient modulus correlations that use either CBR or unconfined compression strength, moisture content, dry density, degree of compaction, and stresses as dependent attributes are developed.

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