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Strength Characteristics of Lime Stabilized Chikoko Soil

Article  in  Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering · January 2015

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 Strength Characteristics of Lime
Stabilized Chikoko Soil

George Rowland Otoko and Diri Princewill Godknows

Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology,
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
Deltaic tropical marine clay locally called Chikoko soil is very soft, most time requiring
expensive deep foundations. However, in many instances, it has been successfully stabilized.
The unconfined compression test (UCS) is mostly used in estimating the strength of stabilized
soils instead of the triaxial compression tests. The undrained strength of the stabilized soil is
considered for design and treated as being independent of stress. The drained strength of
stabilized soil is found from triaxial tests to be stress dependent like that of natural soils. This
should be considered in the design process for most soils and loading conditions.
This paper presents the effect of consolidation stress on the strength of lime stabilized
Chikoko soil. Vane shear tests, UCS tests and triaxial tests were conducted. Results show that
the undrained cohesion and frictional angle are directly proportional to the lime content and
curing periods. The consolidation stress is directly proportional to the undrained cohesion and
inversely proportional to the frictional angle, for a given lime content and curing period.
Consolidation stress ought to be considered in estimating the design strength parameters for
stabilized soil.
KEYWORDS: Chikoko, consolidation stress, lime, shear strength, UCS, triaxial test.

INTRODUCTION
Soil stabilization is a technique of modifying the properties of the soil in order to improve its
engineering performance. By so doing, strength or stability of the soil is increased and the
construction cost reduced by making best use of the locally available materials. This can be done with
or without admixtures. Compaction and drainage are possible examples without admixtures, whereas,
lime, bitumen, chemicals etc. are possible admixtures that can be used for stabilization.
Lime has been used in stabilizing soil for several decades (Otoko 2014) and the different aspects
of the strength of lime stabilized soils investigated by Anberg et al. (2003), but no substantial work
has been done on the effect of consolidation stress of the lime stabilized soil in drained and undrained
conditions. There is usually a significant increase in strength of lime stabilized soils (Bell 1988, Rao
et al. 1990) and reduction in its swelling potential (Mohammed et al. 2009). Khelife et al. (2011)
conclude that lime content is directly proportional to the optimum moisture content and inversely
proportional to the plasticity index; while the shear stress is directly proportional to the curing time
(Mir 2004). Back pressure can also affect the strength of lime stabilized soil (Anberg 2003). However,
limited work has been done on effect of the consolidation stress on the strength of lime stabilized
soils. Hence, the aim of this present work is to study the effect of consolidation stress on the strength
properties of lime stabilized Chikoko soils.

- 12047 -
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12048

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Materials and Methods
Chikoko soil sample was collected from Eagle Island (Figure 1) at a depth of 1.0m from ground
level. The physical properties of natural Chikoko soil are shown in table 1. Laboratory grade hydrated
lime was used for the investigation.
Triaxial, UCS and Vane shear tests were conducted on natural and lime stabilized Chikoko soil at
consistency of 0.2 lime content of 3%, 5%, 7% and 9% were used and cured for 7, 14 and 28 days.

Figure 1: Chikoko site at Eagle Island, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Table 1: Physical properties of natural Chikoko soil

S/N Parameters Values
1. Moisture Content % 69
2. Liquid limit LL% 85
3. Plastic Limit PL % 30
4. Plasticity Index P.I % 55
5. Liquidity Index % 71
6. Clay Fraction 75
Silt fraction 19
Sand Fraction 6
7. Activity 0.73
8. Specific Gravity 2.41
9. Salinity 3.20
10. Unified Classification CH

Sample Preparation
Chikoko soil was sieved through 425 µm, mixed with water to the required consistency and then
mixed with the required amount of lime. Triaxial test samples were prepared and stored in
humidity chamber at ambient temperatures for the required curing period, after which they are
tested in the triaxial machine at cell pressure of 50kPa, after subjecting it to a consolidation
stress of 50kPa; and subsequently tested similar samples for a consolidation stress of 100kPa
and 150kPa.
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12049

Unconfined Compressive Strength Test

Bearing capacity of foundations is based on strength. UCS is a simple suitable test in this regard.
Although they do not provide information on the influence of stress; and pore water pressures,
they are nevertheless useful in estimating the undrained strength of stabilized soils.

Triaxial Compression Test

Measurement of undrained strength under varying loading conditions were done with the triaxial
test machine (Figure 2 and 3). Triaxial test conducted have shown that the undrained strength of
stabilized soil is stress dependent as in natural soils.

Vane Shear Test

Vane shear test were also conducted on the Chikoko soil with the objective of getting the
undrained strength parameters of the soil.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Vane Shear Test
Figure 4 shows the variation of undrained cohesion with various lime contents (3%, 5%, 7% and
9%) at a consistency of 0.2. it is clear from the figure that undrained cohesion is marginally directly
proportional to the lime content.

Figure 2: Triaxial testing of the chikoko specimen

 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12050

Figure 3: Chikoko specimen preparation

Figure 4: Variation of undrained cohesion with various percentages of lime content at 0.2
consistency

Unconfined Compression Strength Test

Figure 5 shows the variation of UCS with curing periods for various lime content. The UCS is
seen to be directly proportional to the curing period for virtually all lime contents.
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12051

Figure 5: UCS strength of soil at a consistency of 0.2 stabilized with percentage of lime

Triaxial Compression Test

The Chikoko soil of 0.2 consistency was subjected to consolidated undrained triaxial compression
tests at various lime content (3%, 7% and 9%). Curing was for 7, 14 and 28 days. The sample was
first consolidated at a constant pressure and the cell pressure increased before testing to get the
strength parameters. 50kPa, 100kPa and 150kPa were the consolidation stress considered.
The variation of soil undrained cohesion at 0.2 consistency stabilized with 3% lime and cured for
7, 14 and 28 days is plotted in Figure 6, which clearly shows that the undrained cohesion is directly
proportional to the consolidation stress.

Table 2: UCS of Cured lime stabilized Chikoko soil.

UCS (kPa)
Curing 3% 5% 7% 9%
periods lime lime lime lime
7 6.1 9.8 15.1 18.6
14 12.8 30.7 37.9 65.5
28 30.0 50.3 48.1 78.7

Figure 6: Variation of cohesion of soil at 0.2 consistency stabilized with 3% lime

 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12052

Table 3: Cohesion for various lime content, curing periods and consolidation stress
Cohesion (kPa)
Curing 3% lime 7% lime 9% lime
periods 50% 100% 150% 50% 100% 150% 50% 100% 150%
*CS CS CS CS CS CS CS CS CS
7 8 23 31 11 38 57 23 59 82
14 20 51 66 32 61 81 50 78 103
28 40 68 85 50 87 102 78 100 125
* CS – Consolidation stress
The cohesion is directly proportional to the consolidation stress for a given curing period and lime
content (Table 3).

Angle of Internal Friction

Figure 7 shows the variation of frictional angle attained for soil at 0.2 consistency treated with
3%, 7% and 9% lime respectively and subjected to consolidation stress of 50kpa, 100kPa and 150kPa.
The figure also shows variation of angle of internal friction with curing period. It shows that the angle
of internal friction is inversely proportional to the consolidation stress for a given lime content and
curing period.

Figure 7: Variation of Angle of Internal Friction of Soil at 0.2 consistency stabilized with
3% lime.

Table 4 shows the angle of internal friction for soil at 0.2 consistency stabilized with various lime
contents and subjected to different consolidation stresses. The angle of internal friction is directly
proportional to the lime content and cuing periods; and inversely proportional to the consolidation
stresses for a given lime content and curing period.

Table 4: Angle of Internal Friction of lime stabilized Chikoko soil at 0.2 consistency at
various consolidation stresses.
Curing Angle of internal friction
periods 3% lime 7% lime 9% lime
(Days) 50% 100% 150% 50% 100% 150% 50% 100% 150%
*CS CS CS CS CS CS CS CS CS
7 5 4 3 6 4 3 8 6 4
14 8 6 5 10 8 7 12 10 7
28 10 9 7 12 10 12 15 12 10
* CS - Consolidation stress
 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12053

CONCLUSION
The tropical deltaic marine clay, locally known as Chikoko soil is a geologically recent soft clay
deposit, which are found in the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria and found in several parts of the world
especially along the coast in narrow tidal planes and swamp areas. They characteristically have low
shear strength and high compressibility; but they can be stabilized by various admixtures. Following
this study, the following conclusions can be drawn.
1. At zero curing period the lime stabilized Chikoko soil exhibits very low strength. Hence,
strength improvement is a function of curing period.
2. UCS of lime stabilized Chikoko soil at 0.2 consistency is directly proportional to the lime
content and curing periods.
3. Cohesion and angle of internal friction of the lime stabilized Chikoko soil at 0.2 consistency
is directly proportional to the lime content and curing period.
4. The consolidation stress is directly proportional to the undrained cohesion and inversely
proportional to the angle of internal friction for a given lime content and curing period.
Generally, it is concluded that the strength of lime stabilized Chikoko soil and other soft clays is a
function of the consolidation stress and should be incorporated into the design.

REFERENCES
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 Vol. 20 [2015], Bund. 24 12054

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