Calcium-Based Stabilizer Induced Heave in Oklahoma Sulfate-Bearing Soils

The addition of lime stabilizers can create problems in soils containing sulfates. In most cases, lime is mixed with expansive soils rendering them non-expansive; however, when a certain amount of sulfate is present naturally in expansive soils, the lime reacts with gypsum to create an expansive mineral ettringite and causes the soil to become more expansive. The goal of this study was to provide a more accurate sulfate determination method and determine the physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of Oklahoma soils that may predict vulnerability to adverse reactions from calcium-based stabilizers and attempt to relate these characteristics to free swell. Through this project, it was found that the current method of testing soil sulfate, Oklahoma Highway Department’s (OHD) L-49, resulted in substantial sulfate solubility issues and did not in all cases accurately determine sulfate concentrations in soils. Several bench studies were performed to understand the solubility problems and modifications were proposed.

• 
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/23202
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, 202 West Boyd Street
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Oklahoma Department of Transportation

  Planning and Research Division, 200 N.E. 21st Street, Room 3A7
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73105

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Cerato, Amy B
  • Miller, Gerald A
  • Elwood-Madden, Megan
  • Adams, Amanda
  • Varnier, Michaela Campbell
• Publication Date: 2011-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 114p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium compounds; Ettringite; Gypsum; Solubility; Stabilizers; Sulfates; Swelling soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil heave
• Geographic Terms: Oklahoma
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01354084
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-OK-11-03
• Contract Numbers: ODOT SPR Item Number 2010
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 19 2011 12:53PM