Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Soil Stabilization Techniques - tcm45-345014 PDF
Soil Stabilization Techniques - tcm45-345014 PDF
STABILIZING SOILS
WITH CEMENT
Types I and IA, normal and airentraining cements, are most commonly used.
All soils can be stabilized with
portland cement, provided sufficient quantity is added. Some soils
with a high organic content do not
react well with cement and hardening may be delayed. As clay content
increases, soils become more difficult to pulverize and work, and larger quantities of cement must be
added to harden them.
The thickness of a cement-stabilized base depends upon the traffic
loads and volumes and the stability
of the subgrade. Thicknesses greater
than 7 inches are built in more than
one lift. The thickness of subbase or
subgrade stabilization depends upon the nature of the soils and the
conditions of the job.
Chemical bonds or linkages are
developed between adjacent cement grain surfaces and exposed
soil particle surfaces. There is also a
secondary effect produced when
lime, which is formed as the cement
hydrates, reacts with the silica and
alumina in the clay fraction to
produce secondary cementitious
material.
ment has been added. When subbases are stabilized with cement,
the purpose of the stabilization is to
improve the properties of a substandard material.
The method calls for these steps:
a. Grade area
b. Scarify, pulverize and pre-wet
soil as necessary
c. Regrade
d. Spread portland cement and
mix
e. Apply water and mix
f. Compact
g. Final grade
h. Cure
The central-plant-mixed method
calls for this procedure:
a. Grade and compact subgrade
b. Mix soil, cement and water in
central plant
c. Haul mixed material to area
and spread
d. Compact
e. Final grade
f. Cure
Pu l ve rization is necessary with
heavier-type soils to break up the
soil particles and ensure intimate
contact with the cement.
Optimum moisture is necessary
to both hydrate the cement and facilitate compaction. As a rule-ofthumb guide, optimum moisture
content can be assumed to be the
driest condition at which a 2-inch
ball of soil, molded in the fingers, retains its shape. As a further aid, the
ball should break into only a few
pieces when dropped. Traces of
moisture on the fingers means that
the optimum content has been exceeded.
Proper curing for 7 days is essential. The surface must be sealed to
prevent evaporation losses.
Stabilization should not be attempted at temperatures below 40
degrees.
Compaction should be done to at
least 95 percent of maximum density (ASTM D 558).
PUBLICATION#C680371
Copyright 1968, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved