Abstract:
Expansive soils have the tendency to behave volume change during wetting and drying
scenario. This behavior of the soil cause large uplift pressure, differential settlement, and
upheaval of structures built on them. Avoiding these types of unsuitable soils is mostly
impractical, hence stabilization practices are considered to reduce the pre-specified behavior
of the soils.
The aims of the study are (a) characterize the engineering properties of expansive soils in AsenDabo town, (b) evaluate the effect of lime and cement addition on some engineering property
of expansive soil, and (c) evaluate the effect of curing duration on treatment of expansive soil
with lime and cement.
Among the known mechanisms to treat the expansive soils, chemical stabilization is one. In
this study soil from expansive site, expansive soil of Asen-Dabo was treated chemically with
hydrated lime and Portland cement to understand and compare the engineering performance
of the soil. Lime and cement content added in variation of percentages respectively 2%, 4%,
6%, and 8%. Unconfined compressive strength of the expansive soil was done for both
immediate and seven day cured specimens and the resulting values were compared.
Both hydrated lime and Portland cement addition brought the same positive effect towards
treating the soil. Both chemical stabilizers decreased the liquid limit, plastic index, free swell
percentage, linear shrinkage, maximum dry density (MDD), and strain. The plastic limit,
unconfined compressive strength, optimum moisture content (OMC), and California bearing
ratio of the expansive soil was observed to increase with lime and cement percentage
increment. Finally those who are involving in construction industries in the study area can use
lime and cement to reduce the effect of expansiveness of the soil.
