LIME MODIFICATION OF CLAY SOILS FOR CONSTRUCTION EXPEDIENCY

Lime modification has the potential to reduce greatly the delays to co nstruction projects caused by wet weather. The initial consumption of lime (ICL) test, currently used as an indicator of how much lime to us e, is shown to produce results that can be both inconsistent and exces sively conservative. Interpretation based on the full pH against lime addition curve is suggested. Changes in plasticity with both time afte r mixing and lime content are examined for four British clays, compreh ensive Atterberg limit testing being shown to be adequate for design. The points at which full modification occurs are interpreted from thes e changes and complement well those determined by the modified ICL tes t. Changes in plasticity caused by smaller lime additions are shown to be adequate in many cases to improve site workability.