Geomechanical properties of lime stabilized clayey sands

Abstract EN

Clayey Sands that have low plasticity, low compressibility, and high strength under loads, are suitable as a base material for any engineering construction projects as well as for roads and building construction.

Decrease of plasticity and compressibility as well as increase in strength of these materials can be obtained by many different methods.

Of these methods, lime stabilization is a common, applicable, and easy-touse approach that can improve geomechanical and geotechnical properties of clayey sand fills.

In this study, some important geomechanical properties of clayey sands including compressive strength, tensile strength, CBR, and elastic-plastic behavior are investigated.

A range of gradations representative of those gradations found in situ in the north of Iran were selected for testing and samples were artificially rebuilt in the laboratory.

The mixes were then stabilized with hydrated lime and cured.

Different mechanical tests were performed on mature materials.

The stress–strain behavior of lime-stabilized mixes was plotted and a parabolic function was used to estimate the trend of the stress–strain behavior.

The data show that there is a correlation among the results of uniaxial load test, tensile strength, and CBR of the tested specimens.

Also, results of the unconfined compression test and the indirect tensile strength test show that an increase in clay content up to a certain percent, in the clay-sand fills, tends to increase the strength of the materials, in compression as well as in tension.