Sodium chloride as an additive in lime-soil stabilisation

TLDR: In this article, the effect of adding 1, 2 and 3 per cent of sodium chloride during lime treatment was investigated and the results showed that the increase in unconfined compressive strength was between 100 and 300 percent over that of the untreated or lime-only treated soils for clay contents between 30 and 50 percent of the total soil composition.

Abstract: Kaolinitic and montmorrillonitic soils were prepared from commercial quality sand and clay in 10, 30 and 50 per cent clay contents. Lime was added in 2, 4 and 8 per cent by dry weight of soil. The effect on optimum moisture content, maximum dry density and unconfined compressive strength of adding 1, 2 and 3 per cent of sodium chloride during lime treatment was investigated. At 28 days strength gains due to sodium chloride were generally higher in lime-kaolinite than in lime-montmorillonite soils. These amounted to between 100 and 300 per cent increase in unconfined compressive strength over that of the untreated or lime-only treated soils for clay contents between 30 and 50 per cent of the total soil composition. For most soils the optimum salt content for a maximum strength gain appears to be approximately one per cent. (Author/TRRL)