Shear Strength Improvement of Fine-Grained Soils Using Lime Stabilization

Abstract

An essential component of any civil engineering building is soil. Buildings, bridges, highways, tunnels, dams, towers, and other civil engineering structures are constructed on or below the earth's surface. Proper foundation soil is necessary for their stability. Fine-grained soils often exhibit weak shear strength, posing challenges in construction projects. This study focuses on enhancing the shear strength of such soils through chemical stabilization using lime, a cost-effective and widely available material. In this experimental investigation, lime was mixed with fine-grained soil at varying dosages of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by weight. The prepared samples were subjected to curing periods of 7, 14, and 28 days. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was conducted to evaluate the shear strength development over time. The results revealed a significant increase in shear strength with both lime content and curing duration. The maximum shear strength of 1007.7 kPa was observed at 8% lime content after 28 days of curing, which is approximately five times greater than that of the untreated (in-situ) soil. The study concludes that lime stabilization is an effective technique for improving the shear strength of fine-grained soils, with optimal performance achieved at 8% lime content after sufficient curing. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable ground improvement strategies in civil engineering.