Effect of lime, cement and Sarooj (artificial pozzolan) on the swelling potential of an expansive soil from Oman

In this study, Al-Khod (town in northern Oman) expansive soil was stabilized using lime, cement, combinations of lime and cement, Sarooj (artificial pozzolan) and heat treatment. Initially, the chemical and physical properties of the untreated soil were determined. Then the soil was mixed with lime, cement and Sarooj (produced from Bilad Seet, a town in northern Oman) at 3%, 6% and 9% by dry weight of soil. Fixed percentages of lime (3% and 5%), plus different percentages of cement were also mixed with the soil. The physical results of the treated samples were determined. The untreated soil values were used as control points for comparison purposes. It was found that with the addition of 6% lime, both the swell percent and swell pressure reduced to zero. Heat treatment reduced swelling potential to zero. The use of lime showed superior results when compared with the other stabilizers. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.