STABILIZATION OF A SAUDI
SABKHA SOIL WITH LIQUID ASPHALTS
Hamad I. AL-Abdul
Wahhab and Ibrahim
Asi
ABSTRACT
In this
investigation, a typical sabkha from eastern Saudi Arabia was used. The soil was
first classified using sieve analysis and Atterberg limits tests. The surface
area was then determined using the centrifuge kerosene equivalent (CKE) test to preliminarily estimate the optimum asphalt dosage
that should be added to the sabkha. Two types of liquid asphalts were used,
namely emulsion and cutback, at four different percentages. In order to further
improve the strength of the asphalt-stabilized sabkha, lime and cements were
also added at three different weight percentages (0, 2 and 4%). Isotropically-consolidated triaxial
tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of these stabilized sabkha
specimens.
Although liquid asphalts did not bring
about any improvement as anticipated, results of this investigation indicate
that the sabkha properties (0 and c) have improved significantly by the
addition of cement to the emulsified asphalt. Properties of sabkha have been
improved to a lesser extent when lime and emulsified asphalt were used.
Emulsified asphalt at 4 % Portland cement proved to be the best treatment.