Effect of Lime and Cement on Strength and Volume Change Behavior of Black Cotton Soil

Lime stabilization continues to be the widely used technique to control the swell-shrink properties of expansive soils. In this paper, results of an experimental study conducted to understand the effect of lime and/or cement on engineering properties of expansive (Black Cotton Soils, (BCS)) collected from Bharuch, Gujarat India are presented. Effect of lime and cement, curing period and specimen preparation on shear strength and compressibility of untreated and treated BCS is studied. Results from the study showed a decrease in LL and the increase of PL with a considerable reduction in PI. Reduction in PI increased with increasing lime content. Physical mixing of soil, lime and/or cement was achieved by two methods: Method 1 (mixture of soil and stabilizer(s) was cured and then specimens prepared and tested immediately) and Method 2 (specimens of treated soil were prepared, cured and then tested). Shear strength increased with curing period in the case of cement. Results show that Method 2 of physical mixing of soil and lime is effective in increasing shear strength and reducing the coefficient of compressibility or compression index. Treatment led to a reduction in swell pressures with magnitude profoundly affected by specimen preparation method and the presence of cement along with Cao. Method 2 of physical mixing of soil and stabilizer(s) was found to be efficient in improving the strength and volumetric behavior of BCS.