Effects of Lime Content on Road Performance of Low Liquid Limit Clay

Abstract

Low liquid limit clay has a low plastic index, displays poor strength, and is sensitive to water, and its mechanical qualities decline as the water content changes, making it difficult to employ directly in the construction process. Adding lime is a fantastic way to improve it. The influence of lime concentration on the road performance of low liquid limit clay is investigated in this research using a limit water content test, compaction test, and California bearing ratio test. The results show that the original plain soil does not meet the requirements of highway subgrade filling, and the basic properties of subgrade soil are improved to varying degrees after adding lime, resolving the problem regarding the original well-cultivated soil’s inability to meet the requirements of construction. The plastic limit of the improved soil increased by roughly 3% as the lime content increased, but the maximum dry density decreased dramatically by 9.03%, 5.71%, and 5.98%, respectively. With an increase of 57.3% in lime content and compaction times, the California bearing ratio increases dramatically. The ideal moisture content rises as the lime content rises. The optimal dosage is 6%, according to a rigorous study of several performance metrics.