A comparative assessment of sand and lime stabilization of residual micaceous compressible soils for road construction

Summary The presence of mica in pavements can be detrimental due to the effects of high compressibility and low compacted density it imparts to the soils. Three residual micaceous compressible soils derived from granite, granitic gneiss and phyllite can neither be used as base nor sub-base course in their untreated form. In this study, these soils have been treated with a range of lime and sand contents to determine their effects on consistency, compactability, bearing and compressive strengths and volume stability against swell. With 6–8% lime, soils derived over phyllite and granitic gneiss were rendered suitable for use as sub-base course as their plasticity index, 96 hour soaked CBR values and unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) were improved to satisfy existing local criteria. Similarly, with 30% sand both soils became suitable for sub-base course construction. The use of both additives markedly improved the volume stability of all the soils against swell.