Experimental study of clay soil stabilization with lime and sea water for road subgrade use. After 1080 days of curing period.

Abstract Extensive areas around the world are covered by clay soils of high swelling potential. These clays are now well known as active clays due to their behavior with volume changes according to their moisture content. In arid and seem-arid regions such as Greece or other Mediterranean countries, the clay material exists in an unsaturated condition due to deep water table. With seasonal climatic changes, the clay tends to change moisture content. The purpose of this laboratory investigation firstly was to examine the engineering properties. For this, grain size analyses, Atterberg limits, x-ray analyses, , shrinkage limits tests, swell pressure in the oedometer, cation exchange capacity and pH in disturbed soil samples have been investigated. Also, an attempt has made to stabilize and increase strength of an active clay soil with different percentage of lime and long curing period of time, in order to use the clay mixture with lime for subbase construction for roads, railway embankments, air-port running- ways. The results were very promising.