Combined Lime and Cement Treatment of Expansive Soils with Low to Medium Soluble Sulfate Levels

Expansive soils are considered as one of the major natural hazards causing billions of dollars of damage annually to various civil infrastructures built over them. Several methods have been attempted to stabilize expansive soils with some success. One method using combined lime and cement additives shows some promise, with initial lime treatment improving the workability and the subsequent cement treatment improving the strength and resilient properties of the same subsoil. However, the efficiency of this method has not yet been extensively studied. Hence, an attempt is made in the present research to evaluate the suitability of combined lime and cement treatment in stabilizing expansive clays of the city of Arlington, Texas. This paper covers two of the test pavement sections built on combined lime and cement treated subgrades. Laboratory test results including unconfined compression strength, free swell tests and linear shrinkage tests were first conducted to evaluate the property enhancements. Field sections built on combined treated subsoils were monitored and surveyed to study the heave related movements and cracking.