EVALUATION OF DOLIME FINE PERFORMANCE IN MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF AN EXPANSIVE SOIL.

Abstract

Expansive clays are considered problematic soils as they exhibit significant volume changes with the change in moisture content. Mixing swelling clays with dolime fine has been used as an improvement technique. Dolomite chips are obtained by crushing dolomite stones; while crushing a substantial solid waste is produced, it is called dolime fine. Dolime fine has very high percentage of CaO. It has been recommended as a binding agent that can replace pure lime. So dolime fines can be utilized to stabilize expansive soil. Their strength and availability characterize dolomite chips. An industrial swelling soil has been prepared by mixing bentonite with a natural clay soil to use it in this study, the mixing proportion was 75% Bentonite and 25% natural clay soil. Dolime chips were brought from Erbil city (northern Iraq), while bentonite was brought from Samawa city (southern Iraq), as natural soil was brought from the marshes of Basra city (southern Iraq). Samples were prepared in the laboratory by mixing the swelling soil with (0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%) of the dolime fine relative to the weight of the soil for 0, 14, 28 curing days. The test results showed that the addition of dolime fine, in different percentages, reduces the MDD, SP, L.L and Ip. Simultaneously, the MOC, CBR, UCS, and P.L were increased with increasing the percentage of dolime fine and the curing period.