When it comes to optimizing lime for soil stabilization, we know our stuff.
Here is a cheat sheet with the dos and don’ts for lime stabilization.
DO:
- Classify Soil – Atterberg Limits
- Determine Lime Demand – percentage by dry weight of soil
- Establish Moisture Density Relation – Moisture-Density (MD) Curve
- Determine Strength – Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)
- Bring Soil to Final Grade – adjust for fluff
- Spread Lime Uniformly – pounds per square yard
- Control Mix Depth – stay as close to specified mix depth as possible
- Mix Lime in Soil – break down clay particles to less than 2.5”
- Use Enough Water – 2 to 3 percent over optimum moisture content (OMC)
- Seal off Mixture to Slow Carbonation and Facilitate Mellowing – lightly compact
- Mellow for 24 Hours Minimum – keep surface moist
- Remix After Mellowing – achieve specified sieve analysis and OMC
- Compact Treated Soil per MD Curve – keep surface moist until covered
DON’T:
- Don’t Leave Lime/Lime Mixture Exposed to Carbon Dioxide in Air for Extended Period – results in carbonation of lime – reduces available calcium
- Don’t Over Mix Depth – results in dilution of lime in the mixture – reduces strength
- Don’t Starve Chemical Process for Water – reduces strength – slows chemical reaction
- Don’t Have Too Much Excess Limed Scalping – no more than ½” for 8” mix depth – results in dilution – reduces strength
Calculations for Determining Lime Quantities
By Given Application Rate:
Length of Roadway –750 feet
Width of Roadway – 35 feet
Depth of Treatment – 6 inches (.5’)
Rate of Application – 30 pounds per square yard
750’ × 35’ = 26,250 sf ÷ by 9sf/sy = 2916.67 sy
2916.67 square yards × 30 lbs/sy = 87,500 lbs
87,500 lbs ÷ by 2000 lbs/ton = 43.75 tons or rounded up to 44 tons
By Percent of Dry Weight of Soil:
Length of Roadway – 1500 feet
Width of Roadway – 38 feet
Depth of Treatment – 6 inches (.5’)
38’ × 1500’ × .5’ = 28,500 cubic feet
28,500 cf × 110 lbs/cf = 3,135,000 lbs
3,135,000 lbs × 6% (.06) = 188,100 lbs
188,100 lbs ÷ by 2000 lbs/ton = 94.05 tons
Or
3’ × 3’ × .5’ = 4.5 cf/sy
4.5 cf × 110 lbs/cf = 495 lbs/sy
495 lbs/sy × 6% (.06) = 29.70 lbs/sy
38’ × 1500’ = 57,000 sf ÷ by 9sf/sy = 6,333.33 sy
6,333.33 sy × 29.70 lbs/sy = 188,100 lbs
188,100 lbs ÷ 2000 lbs/ton = 94.05 tons
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