Comparing the Engineering Performance of Cement and Lime Treated Expansive Soil Located in Asen-Dabo town

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.