Evaluation of Strength Properties on A-7-5 Lateritic Soil Stabilized with River Sand

Abstract

This work investigated the geotechnical properties of A-7-5 lateritic soil stabilized with river sand. Laboratory and field tests were carried out on the natural and A-7-5 clay stabilized with 20, 40 and 60% river sand by weight. The results, amongst other things revealed a sharp reduction in plasticity index from 19.84% to 15.0% as river sand increase. The in-situ CBR and MDD obtained after 1, 7, 14, 28, 60 and 90 days are 17.6, 27.1, 39.8, 54.8. 71.9, 39.5% and 1.6, 1.89, 1.99, 2.12, 2.13, 2.15 g/cm3 indicating a strong improvement in strength properties of stabilized clay soil. The addition of 60% river sand to A-7-5 clay significantly improves its CBR by 438%. However, sharp reduction in the field CBR values was noticed, when curing period extended beyond 60days, consequent upon exposure of compacted admixture materials to atmospheric conditions and reduction in the specific gravity of the resulting composite matrix.