Test study of high liquid limit clay modified by quick lime used as sub-grade material

Abstract

Through laboratory test, the relationships among change of compactibility, liquid/plastic limit, free swell, swell ratio without load, california bearing ratio (CBR) and soakage (after being soaked in water), and mix-ratio of quick lime and time were studied. The results show that optimum water content, plastic limit and CBR of high liquid limit clay improved by quick lime increase with the increase of mix-ratio of quick lime, while the maximum dry density, liquid limit, plasticity index, soakage (after being immersed in water), free swell, and swell ratio without load decrease with the increase of mix-ratio of quick lime. Plastic limit of high liquid clay improved by quick lime gradually increases with time, while the liquid limit, plasticity index, free swell and swell ratio without load gradually decrease with time. When the mix-ratio of quick lime exceeds 2%, after 14 d, swell ratio without load of the improved clay is zero, its free swell is about 30% of that of untreated soil, and its plasticity index is less than 26 for sub-grade material, satisfying the requirement by ‘Specifications for Design of Highway Subgrade’.

Keywords

high liquid limit clay / quick lime / plasticity index / california bearing ratio (CBR) / soakage / expansibility

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