Chemical soil stabilization involves the incorporation of hydraulic binders: namely, lime and cement, which in turn enhance the physical properties of the host soil. Soils best suited to the process typically incorporate clay and silt, and are prone to losing strength properties as the water content increases. Once treated with lime and/or cement, the improvements to the properties of the soil are numerous. Some of the most significant enhancements include: strength increase, decreased susceptibility to water ingress and volume changes, and improved durability. Chemical stabilization of a soil eliminates the need to remove an inherently weak soil subgrade and replace it with a quarried, processed granular material. This process is not only cost effective, but it also lessens the demand on non-renewable resources and reduces the environmental footprint of a road construction project. Although the technology is proven and widely adopted around the world, the process is not widely utilized in Canada. This paper describes the soil stabilization process, including the physical alterations to the soil and the design process. The paper also presents case studies where chemical soil stabilization has been utilized as an alternative to "remove and replace" processes. Finally, the applicability of chemical soil stabilization techniques within Canada is discussed. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E220308.
Abstract