Abstract
This research focuses on the possibility of using hydrated lime as an agent to enhance the properties of sabkha soil, such as maximum dry density, optimum water content, liquid limit, plasticity index, maximum strength, and compressibility. A series of laboratory tests was conducted on selected soil treated with 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 % of lime by weight of dry sabkha soil. It was found that the addition of lime to a soil generally results in a reduction of moisture content with reference to compaction and strength, and it leads to an improvement in unconfined compressive strength by the percentage of lime added when compared to the untreated mix. It was found that the addition of the lime to a soil generally results in different decreases in settlement and to different increases in maximum dry density and strength. It was observed that values for consolidation tests indicate that a minimal reduction in void ratio points to failure or collapse not being produced as expected. However, the reduction in void ratio, regardless of its amount, increases with an increase of sustained pressure, and it can be concluded that the sabkha soil possesses low compressibility despite its high salt content. Moreover, the concern of failure upon the coverage of a sabkha area by water, rather than the compressibility of sabkha, must be of main consideration in road construction. Therefore, anticipation of the need for water drainage is necessary to avoid such failure.