A QUICK TEST TO DETERMINE LIME REQUIREMENTS FOR LIME STABILIZATION

Abstract

THE USE OF HYDRATED LIME, CA/OH/2, FOR MODIFYING, UPGRADING, AND STABILIZING SOILS IS INCREASING GREATLY. THIS MEANS HIGHWAY LABORATORIES HAVE HAD THEIR WORK LOADS INCREASED, AND IN MANY INSTANCES, MORE THAN DOUBLED FOR A PARTICULAR JOB. BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE USE OF LIME, THE LABORATORY WAS FINISHED WITH TESTING WHEN A SOIL WAS CLASSIFIED AS UNSUITABLE. NOW THE SAME SOIL IS TESTED AND RETESTED TO FIND THE PERCENTAGE OF LIME REQUIRED TO BRING THE SOIL WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. IN MOST CASES THE PERCENTAGE IS DETERMINED BY COMPRESSIVE TESTS, ATTERBERG LIMITS TESTS, OR BOTH. THE REACTION OF LIME AND SOIL CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A SERIES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS. THE RESULTS OF THESE REACTIONS ARE EXPRESSED AS A CHANGE IN THE PLASTICITY, SWELL, SHRINKAGE OR COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF THE SOIL. THEREFORE, A QUICK OR SIMPLE TEST IS NEEDED TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF LIME REQUIRED TO REACT CHEMICALLY WITH A SOIL TO BRING ABOUT THESE PHYSICAL CHANGES TO AN OPTIMUM DEGREE. LABORATORY TESTS, INVOLVING MINERALOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF UNTREATED AND LIME-TREATED SOILS HAVE PROVEN THAT PH TESTS CAN BE USED TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM LIME REQUIREMENTS OF A SOIL. /AUTHOR/