Soil water characteristic curves of lime-treated highly expansive soils

Estimation of the long-term performance of lime-treated expansive subgrade requires information on its unsaturated behavior. This paper aims at investigating the effect of the lime treatment on the soil-water characteristic curves of expansive soils. Tests were performed on compacted samples of lime-treated expansive clay from Saudi Arabia considering lime contents of 0%, 2%, and 4% and curing periods of 7 and 28 days. Soil water characteristic curves were determined by axis translation technique and filter paper method to cover a wide suction range. Test results revealed that lime content had a significant effect on the shape of the soil water characteristic curves; while, curing period had a less markable effect on the SWCC of lime-treated soil.