Simbi211038903

Introduction

Lime in the technique of soil has been known about and used for centuries. Like cement and other hydraulic binders lime can be used in the treatment of different types of soil, especially those which h contain an important quantity of fine-grained or micro-particle clay and slime in order to improve their previous characteristics which were defected and to stabilize them.

Soil treatment

Definition of treatment

In this particular case this general term refers to a process of modifying any soil for enabling it to fulfill the purpose for what it has been expected in civil engineering precisely. This modification includes both stabilization and amelioration of soil

Stabilization

The process of stabilization of soil consists of adding lime to a reactive soil in order to generate a long -term strength and to lead it to a definite stage of stability, particularly for facing against water and gel effect which will provokes many damages. Quicklime is often used to dry wet soil at a construction site so that it can improve working surface. The most significant utility in soil treatment is the modification and stabilization of the beneath road, dam and other similar construction projects. Lime can effectively increase waterproofness, stability and load-bearing capacity of the subgrade. The chemical reactions that occur during this treatment engender a gain of Puzzolanic reactions and produce stable Calcium, Silicate Hydrates and Calcium Aluminates Hydrates where Calcium from the lime reacts with Aluminates and Silicates solubilased from the clay. Stabilization will offers both medium and long-term effects as following:

• Puzzolanic reaction
  • Significant augmentation of resistance and durability of the soil
    • Resistance against water and gel effect
      • Increasing of PH

Amelioration

This operation refers to the generation of short term effects while adding lime in the soil. It is more about modifying soil physical properties such as Water content, plasticity and sensitivity to water and gel, compression aptitude. The results that are observed during this operation are the following:

• Decreasing of Water content
  • Flocculation- granulation
    • Plasticity diminution
      • Modification of compression characteristics of the soil
        • Resistance to gel and water effects
          • Augmentation of PH

Hydric effects (benefits)

The benefit of this treatment can be measured in numbers, lime increases noticeably because of the inter-grain cohesion due to Puzzolanic reaction. Treated soils can resist to percolation, immersion, erosion and gel-thaw cycle.