Mechanical behaviors of cemented-soil with Ca(OH)2

The cemented-soil was made from Ca (OH)₂, cement and silty clay of Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia, China. The mixing amount of Ca (OH)₂ in the lab is 0 %, 1.5 % , 4.5 % , 7.5%, respectively. The lime-cement soils were cured in 1 day, 3 days, 9 days, 14 days, 28 days and 90 days, respectively. The unconfined compressive strength was measured, and the affecting factors were analyzed. The results indicate that, pozzolanic effect and ion-exchange action exist after the soil and the stabilzers are mixed, but the degrees of two actions are low. Therefore, the experiment prove that hydration is the most important source of strength. Combined with characteristic of clay and strength increasing rule, we concluded that pozzolanic effect and ion exchange action are limited by insufficient clay minerals, and impact of excess calcium hydroxide on cemented-soil strength is very little.