Geotechnical Properties of Stabilized Brown Soil in Al-Karak, South Jordan

Sufficiently clayey brown soil from the north of Karak /Jordan was stabilized for civil engineering construction. Al-Karak climate is an arid and semi-arid region with long summers and low rainfall, in which the soil is unsaturated. The mineral content of Al-Karak brown soil is predominantly quartz and kaolinite minerals. Incorporating clay, though, keeps the hydraulic conductivity of soil low, increases the swelling and shrinkage potential, and increases the loss of strength due to a reduction in cohesion when the saturation state changes. This work aims to improve the geotechnical properties of Al-Karak brown soil and clay mixture with lime or cement. This research's most important results are enhancing the geotechnical properties of brown soil containing 15 % by weight clay and stabilizing using 1% by weight of lime or cement, particularly after curing for 28 days. The results indicate that the early gain in strength is better with cement, whereas its long-term strength gain is better with lime. Lime is the preferred choice for stabilization because, like cement, it provides chemical stabilization. However, lime offers additional advantages, including greater availability and cost-effectiveness. These benefits make lime particularly suitable for large-scale projects, such as road construction, which require substantial quantities of stabilizing material.