Dynamic response of clay mixed with dune sand and lime using cyclic triaxial apparatus

Goufi, Abd Elmalik , Bol, Ertan , Sert, Sedat , Arslan, Eylem

2025-12-05 EURO-MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRATION 2025   11(卷), 1(期), (null页)

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Clay soils are generally characterized by poor engineering properties, such as low shear and compressive strength and high compressibility, which render them unsuitable for most infrastructure and structural engineering applications. While past research has extensively explored the static bearing capacity of stabilized clays, their dynamic behavior remains less understood. To address this, this study investigates the effects of sand-lime stabilization on the dynamic properties of soft clay through strain-controlled cyclic simple shear tests. Clay samples were stabilized with dune sand and lime to assess pH variation, shear modulus (G), and damping ratio (D). Results show that the lime requirement to reach a pH of 12.4 decreases as sand content increases. Shear modulus peaks at the optimum lime content, beyond which excessive lime reduces stiffness due to particle dispersion. The damping ratio improves with stabilization, with the most notable increase observed at 10% sand content, after which further gains diminish. These findings emphasize that lime enhances stiffness, while sand contributes to energy dissipation up to an optimal level, making sand-lime stabilization an effective and sustainable solution for improving the seismic performance of soft clays. Future studies should examine long-term durability and the effects of varying cyclic loading amplitudes to refine stabilization strategies further.