Effect of fineness on lime stabilization of low plasticity clays

Soil stabilization is the improvement of a soil with poor engineering properties using various methods. In this study, stabilization with lime was investigated within the scope of surface soil stabilization. Laboratory studies were carried out at the Soil Mechanics Laboratory of Engineering Faculty of Bayburt University. The main aim of the study is to examine the grindability of the lime, which is additive and investigate the effect of grinded lime on strength and durability. In this study, firstly, the grindability of the lime was examined and ungrinded lime, 90% of which is below 48 microns, was reduced to less than 20 microns levels. Secondly, the test samples were prepared by adding 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% of grinded and ungrinded lime to a low plasticity clay according to the Unified Soil Classification System. Curing times for strength test were determined as 1, 7, 14 and 28 days. As a result of the experimental study, after 28 days of curing time, the ungrinded SL6 and the grinded SGL6 samples that contained 6% of lime had maximum strength values. The SGL6 samples showed 23,6% more strength than SL6 samples. According to the results of freezing-thawing and wetting-drying durability tests, the SGL samples prepared with grinded lime showed more durabil behaviour with respect to the SL samples prepared with ungrinded lime. In the light of the data obtained from the experiments, it can be concluded that fineness of the lime has a direct positive effect on the strength and durability characteristics.