Freezing–Thawing Behavior of Lime Treated Fine–grained Soil

This research study was carried out to investigate the impact of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical and the mineralogical properties of lime treated fine-grained soil. The unconfined compressive strength, wave velocity, volume change, water content, pH and electrical conductivity values were determined during freeze-thaw cycles. Furthermore, Mercury porosimetry and X-ray diffraction tests were carry out to determine changes at microscopic level. The soil used in this study was taken at a site near Jossigny region in eastern part of Paris–France. The soil samples were treated with optimum lime percent 3% depending on the pH method, then cured for 28 days at 20 °C. The soil samples were subjected to 12 cycles of freeze-thaw following ASTM procedure. The result referred that, natural soil exhibit no strength resistance against freeze-thaw cycles and failed during the first hours of freeze-thaw cycles. Analyses indicated that freeze-thaw cycles reduce the unconfined compressive strength of all the tested samples. Moreover, water content during the applied cycles increases and induces significant volume changes. During freeze-thaw cycles, the cracks propagation which caused by the formation of ice lenses in the pores of lime treated soil samples were consider to have significant. The changes in the micro-structural and mineralogical properties reduce the durability  of the lime treated soil samples when subjected to freeze-thaw cycles.