Effect of Temperature on the Strength of Lime–Cement Stabilized Norwegian Clays

Abstract

When performing soil stabilization of soft clays, the effect of temperature on the properties of the stabilized material is usually not considered. In this study, the curing temperature development and its effect on the shear strength and stiffness of lime–cement stabilized Norwegian clays was studied by field measurements, laboratory tests, and numerical analysis. The study includes 18 samples cured under different temperatures and tested by uniaxial unconfined compression (UC) tests. By increasing the curing temperature of the stabilized soil, a significantly faster strength development and higher shear strength values were observed. Monitoring the temperature in the field and introducing the maturity number allowed for the calculation of the maturity of the installed piles. In combination with laboratory results, the use of a maturity number allows to estimate shear strength and the stiffness development of the installed columns. This may allow for a higher utilization of the stabilized material, which further on can lead to reduced amount of binder or a reduction of installed columns, giving reduced costs and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the installation process.