Study on Physical-Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Expansive Soil Stabilized with Fly Ash and Lime

Fly ash and lime have been frequently employed to reduce the swelling potential of expansive soils. Laboratory experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used in this study to investigate the stabilizing effect of fly ash and lime on expansive soils in the Jianghuai undulating plain area. The comparison was drawn between the variation laws of physical parameters, mechanical properties, microstructure, and mineral composition of expansive soil before and after being stabilized. Experimental results suggest that, after 5% lime is added based on fly ash, the plasticity index of the expansive soil decreases by 64.9%, the free swelling ratio is reduced to about 10%, the unloading swelling ratio is reduced to nearly 4%, and the stabilized soil no longer exhibits the expansive property. The unconfined compressive and tensile strengths of the stabilized soil increase first and then decrease with the rising in fly ash content. After the addition of 5% lime, both the unconfined compressive and tensile strengths increase significantly. The optimum modifier mixture ratio is obtained as 10% fly ash + 5% lime. The SEM images reveal that the microstructures of the stabilized expansive soil vary from an irregular flake-like and flocculent structures to blocky structures, and the soil samples compactness is enhanced. XRD results indicate that quartz is the main component of the stabilized soil. These are the underlying causes of the rise in the strength. The conclusions of this study can be referenced for the engineering design and construction of expansive soil in Jianghuai undulating plain area.