Evaluation of Suitability of Caliche as Backfill of MSE Wall Considering Its Compaction and Strength Characteristics

Abstract

This paper presents laboratory test results analyzing the compaction and strength characteristics of Caliche (also known as calcrete or gatch) which is commonly used for road construction in arid or semi-arid region including Middle East area. Caliche material is easily ripped and crushed with excavating equipments at the borrow pit conforming the grain-size distribution specification, but the particles can be additionally broken down to finer particles due to slaking and compaction, and consequently bearing capacity would be dropped. The compaction and strength characteristics were investigated by performing grain-size analysis, compaction tests, and CBR tests. The compacted samples were soaked for as long as 400 days and tested in the lab in order to investigate the long-term behavior of Caliche material.