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Effect of Geogrids on Compressive Strength and Elasticity Modulus of

Lime/Cement Treated Soils

Article in Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering · January 2010

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 Effect of Geogrids on Compressive
Strength and Elasticity Modulus of
Lime/Cement Treated Soils

Omid Azadegan
Graduate Student of Geotechnical Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of
Kerman, Iran
e-mail: [email protected]

Gh.R. Pourebrahim
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of
Kerman, Iran
e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Appropriate function and behaviour of improved soil strata would really affect the super-
structure or pavement behaviour, safety and stability due to loading or other conditions.
Lime/cement stabilized soils have been used widely for pavement base or sub-base materials
or structural foundations. But not many research studies have been performed to investigate
the effects of geogrids on the behaviour of lime/cement treated soils. This study has been
performed on compressive treated soil samples with or without geogrid layers. The results for
each sample have been mentioned through the paper and discussed. Finally the effects of
geogrids have been concluded.
KEYWORDS: soil stabilization, granular soil, cylindrical samples, unconfined
compressive test, stress-strain behaviour.

INTRODUCTION
Various soil stabilization methods have been used extensively during the centuries all around
the world. The stabilization methods would comprise physical, chemical and mechanical
methods. Too many stabilizer agents such as lime, salts, cement, bitumen, lime/fly ash,
geosynthetics and etc. are used to approach stabilization aims. Wide studies have been done on
soil stabilization methods. In this study an experimental study has been performed on
lime/cement stabilized soil reinforced with polypropylene geonet in order to make the effects of
reinforcement on geotechnical properties of stabilized soil more obvious.

Lime soil stabilization has been used so widely since ancient time in Roman and Iranian
civilizations. Lime affects geotechnical properties of soil apparently. It would improve plasticity,
strength, durability and fatigue characteristics of stabilized soil. In recent century too many

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 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1572

studies and laboratory experiments have been performed on this case. Investigation of lime
stabilized contaminated soils, J.M. Reid and A.H. Brooks (1999) [1]; Effects of partial
substitution of lime with ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) on the strength properties
of lime-stabilized sulphate-bearing clay soils, S. Wild et al. (1998) [2]; Sludge ash/hydrated lime
on the geotechnical properties of soft soil, Deng Fong Ling et al. (2007) [3]; Effect of
polypropylene fiber and lime admixture on engineering properties of clayey soil, Yi Cai et al.
(2006) [4]; Chemical stabilization of sandy-silty illite clay, J. Ninov et al. (2007) [5]; Useful life
time and suitable thickness of soil-lime mixture, T. Lopez-Lara et al. (2005) [6]; are some of the
researches samples.

Cement would really change the behavior and geotechnical characteristics of the soil such as
temporary and permanent strength, susceptibility to water, durability against freezing and
thawing, workability of cohesive soil and etc. Some of recent studies on cement treated soils
would be mentioned as: Influence of soil type on stabilization with cement kiln dust, G. A. Miller
and S. Azad, (2000) [7]; Stabilization of residual soil with rice husk ash and cement, E.A. Basha
et al. (2005) [8]; Stabilization of clayey soils with high calcium fly ash and cement, S. Kolias et
al. (2005) [9]; Mechanism of stabilization of Na-montmorillonite with cement kiln dust, S.
Peethamparan et al. (2009) [10]; and Curing time effect on behavior of cement treated marine
clay, H.W. Xiao and F. H. Lee (2008) [11].

During past decades, application of geosynthetics for soil stabilization has become wider and
wider. Various types of synthetics are used right now in different cases of soil improvement like
geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, geofibers and etc. There have been wide efforts on reconnaissance
of geosynthetic application effects on geotechnical properties of reinforced soil such as:
Constitutive modeling of geosynthetics, S. W. Perkins (2000) [12]; A case study of geosynthetic
reinforced wall with wrap-around facing, K.K. Frankowska (2005) [13]; Geosynthetic
reinforcement application for tsunami reconstruction: evaluation of interface parameters with silty
sand and weathered clay, P.V. Long (2007) [14]; Effect of reinforcement form on bearing
capacity of square footings on sand, G. Mahdavi Latha and A. Somwanshi (2009) [15]; A study
on the coefficient of friction of soil/geotextile interface, A. A. Mahmood and N. Zakaria (2000)
[16]; Studies on geotextile/soil interface shear behavior, A.A. Mahmood et al. (2000) [17];
Design and test methods for geosynthetic reinforced structures, A. Nernheim (2005) [18];
Strength characteristics of sand reinforced with coir fiber and coir geotextiles G. Venkatappa Rao
et al. (2005) [19]; and Pullout behavior of geogrid in red clay and prediction of ultimate
resistance, X. Feng et al. (2008) [20].

However, too many studies performed on different types of soil stabilization techniques but
no serious effort is done on geogrid reinforced lime/cement treated soil. Therefore, this study has
been carried out on the case. The study is performed in order to find out the effects of geogrids
application on the geotechnical behavior of lime/cement treated soils used as base, sub-base or
structural foundation materials.

In this study cylindrical soil samples stabilized with lime and cement, by different mix
designs, were made with and without geogrid layer. The layer was chosen as polypropylene
geogrid because of lime application, in order to prevent corrosion in reinforcing agent.
Unconfined compressive test performed on each sample to obtain compressive strength and
modulus of elasticity for each mix design in the case of presence or lack of geogrid layer. In
following, the article will go through the materials used, mix designs, sample production and
curing method, compressive test results, discussion and conclusions.
 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1573

MATERIAL USED
As the study is carried out for base, sub-base and foundation strata materials, the soil
alternated for the study due to the provisions of ASTM [21] for concrete materials and Iranian
National Code of Pavement for base materials [22]. The particle distribution curve (ASTM D
422-88) is given in figure 1.

Figure 1: Particle distribution curve of used materials

Hydrated high calcium lime and Portland cement type II have been used as stabilizer agents.
Hydrated lime has been used because of its high effect in soil stabilization and is really easy to
use and mix with soil due to its fine particle size. Portland cement type II is mostly used in
foundation soil stabilization because of the sulphate attack risk.

Polypropylene geogrid seems to be a good reinforcement for granular materials, because of

its large void which would allow the grains to be stuck with in the voids. Polypropylene
synthetics are corrosion resistant against acid and alkaline conditions. The geogrid used in the
study is shown in figure 2.

Figure 2: Applied polypropylene geogrid

 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1574

MIX DESIGN
Stabilization mixtures have been designed in order to achieving different compressive
strength and modulus of elasticity for the firm soil gradation condition. Therefore, various
amounts of lime and cement were alternated such as given in table 1. The amount of lime varies
between 4.5, 5.6 and 6.8 and the amount of cement varies between 4.5 and 5.6 percent of dry soil
weight.

The water volumes used for mixture compaction in special wares were obtained from
compaction tests for each mix design and obtaining optimum compaction moisture content to
achieve the mixture maximum dry density. The amount of applied water is given in table 1 for
each mix design as the percentage of dry mixture weight.

Table 1: Stabilization mix design information

Hydrated Lime
Mix Design Cement Ratio Moisture Content L/C Ratio
Ratio
A-1 4.5 4.5 8.23 1
A-2 4.5 5.6 8.98 0.8
A-3 5.6 4.5 8.98 1.25
A-4 4.5 6.8 9.44 0.66
A-5 5.6 6.8 9.61 0.82

SAMPLE PRODUCTION AND CURING METHOD

Cylindrical samples were made by compaction of the mixture in special wares which led to
cylinder stabilized soil samples by the dimensions of 10cm in diameter and 20cm in height. The
samples were compacted in 5 layers by the means of 22 impacts of 10.542 (N.m) as the energy of
each pulse. Figure 3 shows three samples which were made by this method.

Figure 3: Picture of produced samples

Two samples series was made for tests. Three samples produced for each mix design without
any geogrid layers and three samples with one geogrid layer. The first series are named as “A”
and the second ones are named as “B”. The samples curing were done for 50 days in a completely
wet condition under plastic covers as is shown in figure 3.
 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1575

Figure 4: Picture of samples curing

UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE TEST RESULTS

Unconfined compressive tests ASTM D 2166-87[22] have been performed on cylindrical
samples. By the means of the tests, the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity were
obtained for each mix design as given in table 2. The modulus of elasticity was calculated for the
stress range of 6 to 20 (kgf/cm2), because all samples had linear behavior in this range.

Table 2: Summery of compressive tests results

Compressive Modulus of
Mix Design L/C Ratio
Strength (kgf/cm2) Elasticity (kgf/cm2)
A-1 1 57.37 1767.45
A-2 0.8 46.86 1674.4
A-3 1.25 71.91 2032.7
A-4 0.66 43.47 1992.35
A-5 0.82 58.78 1990.15
B-1 1 55.33 2512.5
B-2 0.8 54.55 1856.8
B-3 1.25 71.92 2460.05
B-4 0.66 56.56 1984.9
B-5 0.82 55.15 2146.7

Stress-strain diagrams were printed for all samples. Some of diagrams are given in figure 5.
Figure 6 shows unconfined compressive test for cylindrical samples.
 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1576

Figure 5: Stress- strain diagram obtained from compressive test

Figure 6: Picture of unconfined compressive test

DISCUSSION
The first thing would flash in mind that the increment in compressive strength of samples
would not follow a regular procedure. Some of the samples would even show decrement in
compressive strength as the geogrid layer has been added to. Let`s first look at the mechanism of
reinforcement working in unconfined compressive condition.

It has been learned from the material mechanics that whenever an element carry over an
unconfined compressive stress, it would spall on its sides, see figure 7.
 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1577

Figure 7: Side deformation of compressive cubic element

The amount of this deformation would be calculated by equations (1) [23] and (2):

lateral strain
ν =−
axial strain (1)
ε σ
ν = − 2,3  ε 2,3 = 1 ×ν
σ1 E (2)
E

In which the ε2,3 is the strain on other sides, the σ1 is the compressive stress, the E is the
modulus of elasticity, and the ν is Poison ratio.

By studying the equations (1) and (2), it would get clear that as the modulus of elasticity
increases, there would appear a significant decrease in side deformation. The Poison ratio is
almost dependent on the cohesion produced by pozzolanic reaction of cement and lime. The more
strength, the more cohesion produced by reaction, therefore the poison ratio would decrease
obviously due to the phenomena. Moreover, when the L/C ratio decreases the poison ratio
decreases and modulus of elasticity increases significantly, there for the sides deformation would
be less and less by decrement in L/C ratio. The deformation of cylinder samples is shown
schematically in figure 8.

Figure 8: Schematic view of cylindrical samples deformation

 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1578

When a layer of reinforcement locates in the middle of the sample, the spall deformation
produces tensile stress in the reinforcement layer. The tensile stress in reinforcement layer would
work as a confining force on the mid-belt of the sample. This force and confinement would help
the samples to carry over more compressive pressure, see figure 9.

Figure 9: Schematic deformation view of cylindrical samples including reinforcement

Therefore, as the amount of L/C ratio decreases in stabilized samples, the effect of geogrid
reinforcement layers would decrease too. Moreover, the geogrid layer ductility would make
problems during the compaction procedure. This phenomenon would be observed in “B” series
samples. In this case the fracture had happened on the top side of geogrid layer in compressive
tests especially in “B-3” and “B-5” samples and led to less compressive strength compared to the
same in “A” sample series. Figure 10 shows the diagram of compressive strength improvement
ratio against the samples modulus of elasticity.

Figure 10: Improved strength against modulus of elasticity

CONCLUSION
Appropriate behavior of improved foundation soil strata or pavement base and sub-base
layers due to external loads, would lead to safety and durability of super structures. Moreover,
any unexpected phenomena may cause general collapses or intensive damages. Therefore, the
behavior characteristics of any improvement methods must become clear.

The study has been performed on the lime/cement stabilized soil reinforced with
polypropylene geogrid layer, under the unconfined compressive condition. Cylindrical stabilized
samples including reinforcement and without reinforcement layer were made by compacting in
special wares. Unconfined compressive test performed on the samples and following results have
 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1579

been concluded.

How much the sample stiffness gets higher, the less positive effect would be shown by
propylene geogrid reinforcement application. When there is an increment in modulus of elasticity
and the cohesion, produced by pozzolanic reaction, the side deformation of the cylinder
decreases. Therefore, the tension produced in reinforcement and the confinement forces would
decrease too.

Moreover, when a ductile reinforcement layer is used within the stabilized soil, it would
make some problems during compaction procedure and lead to a less dry density. Therefore, the
compressive strength would really decrease at the upper soil layer of the sample located on
geogrid layer.

In order to have an appropriate interaction between lime/cement stabilized soil and

polypropylene geogrids, alternated mix design should comprise enough ductility and side
deformation. Therefore, great L/C ratio must be selected and total amount of applied cement must
be lower than 5 percent.

REFERENCES
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Engineering Geology, 53, 217-231.
2. Wild, S. et al. (1998) “Effects of Partial Substitution of Lime with Ground Granulated Blast
Furnace Slag (GGBS) on the Strength Properties of Lime-Stabilized Sulphate-Bearing Clay
Soils,” Engineering Geology, 51, 37-53.
3. Deng Fong Ling et al. (2007) “Sludge Ash/Hydrated Lime on the Geotechnical Properties of
Soft Soil,” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 145, 58-64.
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Properties of Clayey Soil,” Engineering Geology, 87, 230-240.
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 Vol. 15 [2010], Bund. N 1580

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 EJGE, 2010

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