Assessment of the Effects of Lime and Cement on Geotechnical Properties of Laterites

Abstract

Two different samples of soil tested as A-7-5 and A-7-6 were stabilized respectively with lime and cement. The samples were stabilized with the additives in steps of 2% and subjected to laboratory tests such as consistency limits, compaction, California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) until it reached 10% additives by weight of dry soil sample. The Proctor energy type of compaction and soaked method of CBR was adopted for the research while the compressive strength of the soils were measured in an unconfined state at days 1, 7 and 14 respectively. The plasticity index (PI) of the soil samples increase at 2% additives which later reduces with further increase as the additives contents. The soil samples attained their maximum dry densities at 6% cement and lime respectively, with cement being more effective compared to lime and the water content needed to achieve maximum dry density of the soil were higher in cement than in lime. The CBR values of the soil appreciate with increase in the additives content as indicated in the rise from 1.12% at natural to 7.26% at 6% cement content. The UCS of the lime stabilized soil improved better than that of cement stabilized soil with respect to the age of curing.  Keywords- Stabilization, Lime, Cement, Soil, Laterite.