Effect of surcharge loads during curing of lime stabilised Cochin marine clay

Abstract

The marine clays possess poor engineering properties and need to be improved prior to any construction activities on them. Lime stabilization is a widely adopted method of chemical stabilization for such types of soils. This paper evaluates the effect of surcharge loads during curing of lime stabilization of Cochin marine clays. In the case of lime-stabilized soil cured under surcharge loads, it is necessary to consider two processes, i.e. cementation and consolidation, along which the structures of stabilized soils evolve. These two processes are interrelated and cannot be considered separately, especially in the early stages of curing when significant structural changes occur. This study investigated the strength and deformation characteristics of lime stabilized Cochin marine clay subjected to surcharge loading during curing. The marine clay with 6% lime was subjected to surcharge loads of 20kPa, 40kPa, and 60kPa for different curing periods up to 180 days. The effect of surcharge loading on shear strength and compressibility characteristics were evaluated at different curing periods.