Enhancing the durability of fine-grained soils with stabilizers under freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract. The low strength and weak resistance to freezing-thawing cycles of expansive soil present a substantial engineering challenge. However, different stabilizers can improve soil properties under such conditions. This study determines how freezing-thawing cycles affect the behavior of fine-grained soils stabilized with lime, cement, and Zeolitic Tuff (ZT). Seventeen combinations of these three materials were employed and compared with natural soil. Soils were tested for unconfined compressive strength after performing several freezing-thawing cycles ranging from 0 to 20 to examine environmental conditions' impact on durability. According to the outcomes of the experiments, as the number of freezing-thawing cycles increased, both stabilized and natural soil strength reduced. However, even after 20 freeze and thaw cycles, all treated soil mixtures maintained a higher strength than natural soil. Adding ZT to soil already treated with lime or cement makes them more resistant to strength loss and volume changes due to freezing and thawing actions and helps them maintain the increased strength they gained, more than using lime or cement. Utilizing ZT in combination with lime and cement-treated soil has proven to enhance the durability of soils exposed to freezing temperatures in all the properties that have been evaluated, making its addition an eco-friendly option for lowering life-cycle costs and improving soil performance of earthwork construction.