Soil Stabilization. Report No. 2: Initial Laboratory and Field Tests of Quicklime as a Soil-Stabilizing Material
Abstract
A need exists for a soil-stabilization material that will be suitable for use during military operations in which supporting vehicles are required to negotiate a wet, unstable area without excessive delay. Previous laboratory investigations using both a lean clay and a heavy clay had indicated quicklime to be particularly effective in stabilizing very wet soils. This study was conducted to: (a) investigate the suitability of quicklime as a stabilizing material for very soft soils (b) examine the validity of requirements proposed for this type of stabilizer and (c) determine the suitability of conventional equipment for constructing a stabilized surface in a wet, soft soil. Laboratory tests were first conducted, primarily to examine effectiveness of quicklime as a stabilizing material but also to determine the amount of quicklime to use in stabilizing a field test section. A test section simulating an untraffickable subgrade was then prepared and treated with 8.0% quicklime based on dry soil weight. Traffic tests were made with an M-51 truck loaded to 10,000 lb. The field investigation verified the ability of the chemical to react as indicated in laboratory tests. However, a condition of nonuniform strength and thickness of the stabilized surface layer resulted from extremely poor mixing of the soil and stabilizer. For this reason the test section failed to meet trafficability requirements, and the validity of the proposed requirements for this type stabilizer could not be evaluated. It is recommended that investigation of quicklime as a stabilizer for very wet soils be continued concurrently with efforts directed toward development or improvement of mixing techniques, so that satisfactory evaluation of the material and of the proposed requirements for a stabilizer will be possible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1958
- Accession Number
- ADA637596
Entities
People
- G. R. Kozan