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Durability Studies on Expansive Soils Treated with Lime

Conference Paper · January 2012

DOI: 10.3850/978-981-07-3560-9_05-0504

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 DURABILITY STUDIES ON EXPANSIVE SOILS
TREATED WITH LIME

Arif Ali Baig Moghala and Tamer Yehia Elkadyb

Eng. Abdullah Bugshan, Research Chair in Expansive Soils,

Civil Engineering Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. E-mail: a abaig@ksu.edu.sa, b telkady@ksu.edu.sa

The present study is aimed to examine the roles of lime and curing period on the
durability characteristics and the extent of strength gained on the two expansive
soils from Saudi Arabia. Lime leachability tests were conducted on compacted
specimens with varying lime contents and cured for 7, 14 and 28 days in specially
fabricated moulds under continuous leaching conditions. Unconfined compression
strength tests were conducted on the samples at the end of each curing period.
It has been observed that at higher lime contents and lower curing periods, lime
leachability values are more. At higher curing periods, considerable reduction in
the lime leachability is noted due to transformation of amorphous lime to stable
crystalline form due to the formation of cementitious compounds.
Keywords: Lime, Leachability, Unconfined Compressive Strength.

1. INTRODUCTION

Expansive soils with their innate potential in exhibiting detrimental volume changes upon
varying moisture conditions have been a cause of concern globally (Lu and Likos 2004).
Predominant remedial measures to alleviate the problems posed by these soils include
preloading (Chen 1988), chemical treatment (Puppala et al. 2003) and the use of cohesive
non-swelling soil (CNS) cushion (Sivapullaiah et al. 2004). For the arid and semi arid ter-
rains of Saudi Arabia, information regarding expansive soil deposits, geological origin,
and swelling characteristics has been well documented in the technical literature (Erol and
Dhowian 1982, Dhowian et al. 1985).
Lime is by far the most widely used chemical additive for the treatment of expansive
soils. It has been proven suitable for clays or silty clays. In most of the applications such as
structural fills, liners and landfill covers, road bases, and embankments etc., lime treated
soils are often prone to the leaching of lime, which will reduce the lime content from the
stabilized clay matrix affecting their performance (Baig and Sivapullaiah 2012). Further, the
lime leaching from the clay matrix severely hampers the rate at which pozzolanic reactions
proceed, resulting in the increased material porosity as well as hydraulic conductivity and
reduced mechanical properties. Hence, the durability of lime treated soils depends on the
leachability of lime from the matrix.
In this article lime leachability studies on two expansive soils stabilized with lime have
been conducted. The effects of important parameters like lime content, curing period and

Proceedings of the International Conference on Ground Improvement and Ground Control

Edited by Buddhima Indraratna, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn and Jayan S. Vinod
Copyright © 2012 by Research Publishing Services. All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-981-07-3560-9 :: doi:10.3850/978-981-07-3560-9 05-0504 1187
1188 Proceedings of the International Conference on Ground Improvement and Ground Control

flow period on the leaching of lime has been studied. The mechanism with which the lime
retention is achieved and its effect on the unconfined compressive strength has also been
brought out.

2. MATERIALS

2.1. Soils

The tests were conducted on expansive soils collected from two sites in towns of Al-Ghat
and Al-Qatif. Al-Qatif is a historic, coastal oasis region located on the western shore of the
Persian Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (26◦ 56 0” N, 50◦ 1 0” E). Al-Ghat
is a town located 270 km to the Northwest of Riyadh (26◦ 32’ 42” N, 43◦ 45’ 42” E). Each
site represents expansive soils with different degrees of expansivity and mineralogy. Sam-
pling from both the terrain sites was carried out at a depth of 3 m. The physical properties
and chemical composition of these soils are reported in Tables 1 and 2 respectively. Both
these soils have been classified as clays with high plasticity as per unified soil classification
system.
The predominant minerals in both the soils were determined by carrying out XRD using
Bruker D8 Advance system. Samples were scanned from 2◦ to 60◦ (2θ ) using 2.2 kW Cu
anode long fine focus ceramic X-ray tube at a scanning rate of 1 degree per minute. Figure 1
depicts comprehensive X-Ray diffraction analysis. Basically, Al-Ghat predominantly con-
sists of kaolinite mineral whereas Al-Qatif has montmorillonite, a typical swelling mineral.

Table 1. Physical properties of the soils.

Physical Property Al - Ghat Al - Qatif

Liquid Limit (%) 62 137

Plastic Limit (%) 30 60
Shrinkage Limit (%) 17 22
Plasticity Index (%) 32 77
Linear Shrinkage (%) 31 77
% Finer than 200 μm 87.3 99.1
USCS Classification CH CH
*‘USCS’ refers to unified soil classification system;
‘CH’ refers to clay with high plasticity.

Table 2. Chemical composition of the soils.

Chemical Composition (%) Al - Ghat Al - Qatif

K+ 1.1 1.8
K2 O 1.3 2.2
Al 7 3.3
Al2 O3 13.3 6.3
Si 9.8 8.1
SiO2 21 17.3
Ca+2 1.4 0.7
CaO 2 0.9
 Durability Studies on Expansive Soils Treated with Lime 1189

Figure 1. X-Ray diffraction analysis.

2.2. Lime

Analytical grade Calcium Hydroxide, supplied by Winlab Chemicals, UK has been used in
the present study.

3. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND LIME LEACHABILITY TEST PROCEDURE

The target lime content percentages of 2 and 4 were mixed to soils on dry weight basis. The
maximum proctor density values corresponding to each percentage of lime addition shown
in Figures 2 and 3 were determined by employing mini compaction test procedure devel-
oped by Sridharan and Sivapullaiah (2005). From Figure 2, as the lime content increases
the maximum dry density values were found to reduce with corresponding increase in
optimum moisture content for Al-Ghat. In case of Al-Qatif, no such consistent result was
obtained (Figure 3).
Remoulded samples with different lime dosages were tested for lime leachability in spe-
cially fabricated Perspex moulds, the details of which are shown in Figure 4. The inside of
the perspex mould was coated with a thin layer of silicon grease ensuring a good contact
between the compacted material and the inner surface of the mould. All the tested sam-
ples were compacted to their maximum dry density and corresponding optimum moisture

Figure 2. Compaction characteristics of Al-Ghat Figure 3. Compaction characteristics of Al-

treated with lime. Qatif treated with lime.
1190 Proceedings of the International Conference on Ground Improvement and Ground Control

Outlet
Inlet

Perspex column of 15 cm length

and 2.5 cm diameter Glass beads of .5 cm
diameter

PTFE distributory plate Stainless steel screen

Figure 4. Perspex column used to carry out lime leachability test.

content values as per ASTM D5856-07. The top and bottom of the perspex mould were pro-
vided with perforated PTFE (Poly Tetra-Fluoro Ethylene) screens. Chemically inert glass
beads of 0.5 cm diameter were sandwiched between the two PTFE screens at both the
ends which ensure uniform flow of water throughout the cross section of the compacted
specimen. The perspex mould with the compacted specimen was kept in a desiccator main-
tained at a relative humidity greater than 95%, and cured for 7, 14 and 28 days. After curing
the specimen, the perspex mould was fitted into the position and connected to the flexible
tube. Millipore grade water was allowed to flow through the specimen and the entrapped
air if any was removed using the air vent provided at the top of the perspex mould and
leachate was collected in the sampling bottles. The concentration of the calcium in the
leachate was determined immediately by Jenway calcium ion electrode.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The leaching of calcium ions from pore solution forces the dissolution of calcium hydroxide
which severely hampers the rate at which pozzolanic reactions proceed. Hence in order to
study the rate at which the calcium ions leach out from the lime treated clay matrix, water
was allowed to flow through the compacted specimen continuously for seven days. The
effects of various parameters like lime and curing period on the lime leachability values
have been studied in detail.
The improvement in the engineering properties of clays due to the addition of lime
is attributed to the following cation exchange, flocculation and agglomeration and the
pozzolanic activity. The pozzolanic reaction is a time and temperature dependent process.
During this reaction, alumina and silica dissolve out of the clay mineral and combine with
the calcium to produce cementitious compounds, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and cal-
cium aluminate hydrate (CAH) (Nalbantoglu and Tuncer 2001, Al-Mukhtar et al. 2010).
These cementitious compounds contribute to the long term increase in shear strength.
Figure 5 shows the variation of calcium concentration with flow period for clays stabilized
with 2% lime at different curing periods. It is observed that the flow duration does not
affect the lime leachability and these values remain consistently same from the third day.
With increase in curing period, the leachability values are drastically reduced as lime is
converted from more soluble form to less soluble form of calcium silicate hydrates. The
cementation products formed at higher curing periods harden the clay matrix thereby
reducing the lime leachability.
 Durability Studies on Expansive Soils Treated with Lime 1191

Figure 5. Variation of calcium concentration with Figure 6. Variation of calcium concentration

flow period for 2% lime stabilized soil mixtures at with flow period for 4% lime stabilized soil
different curing periods. mixtures at different curing periods.

With increase in lime content to 4%, the concentration of lime in the leaching fluid
increases, particularly at lower curing periods as seen from Figure 6. But with increase in
curing periods, the solubility of silica from the clay is enhanced as the excess lime breaks
the Si-O bonds in the silica rich phases of clay particles (Particularly Quartz as seen from
Figure 1). This dissolution of silica is better at 4% lime content compared to 2%, as it is
nearer to the optimum lime content (Sivapullaiah et al. 2000). Apart from silica, alumina
is also released from the mineral phase. This triggers a significant reduction in the lime
leachability values at 4% compared to that at 2% lime addition at any given curing period.
As such, the difference in lime leachability values for both the soils can be attributed to
their differences in mineralogical composition (Figure 1).
The variations in the leachability of lime in
both the soils at varying lime contents have
been attributed to the formation of cementi-
tious compounds such as calcium silicate hydrate
and calcium aluminum silicate hydrate. These
compounds which reduce the lime leachability
enhance the strength developed in soils. Hence,
a series of unconfined compressive strength tests
were conducted on both the soils stabilised with
lime as per ASTM D2166-06. The samples were
cured for 7, 14 and 28 days in desiccators main-
tained at a relative humidity of more than 95%. Figure 7. Variation of unconfined com-
Figure 7 shows the variation of unconfined com- pression strength at different lime contents
pression strength at different lime contents with with curing period.
curing periods.
The hydration of soil particles begins immediately with the depolymerization of glassy
phases releasing alumina and silica. For both the soils, at different lime contents the uncon-
fined compressive strength increases with curing period. The pattern observed in the rate
of increase in strength with lime content is almost similar for both the soils for the duration
of the curing period considered in the study.
1192 Proceedings of the International Conference on Ground Improvement and Ground Control

5. CONCLUSIONS

The present study examines the role of lime and curing period on the lime leachability
behavior and unconfined compressive strength of two expansive soils treated with lime.
The lime leachability is evaluated by simulating a sustained leaching condition equiva-
lent to the prevailing hydrological field condition, the treated samples experience due to
continuous exposure of water flow. It has been observed that, at a given lime content, the
lime leachability values are found to reduce with curing period. The flow duration does
not have any considerable effect on the lime leachability. The rate of strength gained is
relatively higher at about optimum lime content of 4% for both the soils. This is due to
increased participation of lime in pozzolanic reactions rendering the lime less leachable.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This paper is a part of a research project supported through NPST program by King Saud
University, Project No. 11-BUI1901-02.

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