Effects of water content change path on laboratory and field compaction of lime stabilized expansive soil

Abstract

Generally, the soil requires to be compacted in highway construction. The expansive soil is a special type of soil that is highly susceptible to variations in water content, which affects the degree of compaction at the same compaction energy. In the present study, a series of wet compaction tests and dry compaction tests were carried out in the laboratory. Laboratory test results show that dry compaction will produce a higher optimum water content and a higher maximum dry unit weight compared to wet compaction, because its matric suction is smaller. Field compaction tests were also conducted, the results showed that there might be a risk of under-compacting soils during construction caused by different water content change path in actual field conditions.