STABILIZATION OF EASTERN SAUDI MARL AND DUNE SAND FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES

I.M. Asi and H.I. AI-Abdul Wahhab

THE FOURTH SAUDI ENGINEERING CONFERENCE, NOV. 1995 - VOLUME 11

ABSTRACT.

Major parts of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia are covered with the windblown dune sand which is characterized as poorly graded soil with high permeability. Also, marl which is available in abundance in this region has a poor strength. It is usually required to use these materials as subgrade layers or as a backfill in base and subbase layers of roads and highways. With the low strength characteristics of these materials and the high water table in the region, some sort of stabilization is needed to improve the characteristics of these materials. In this research, slow setting emulsified asphalt and medium curing cutback asphalt were used to stabilize both mart and dune sand. 2% and 4% lime and Portland cement were added to the stabilized soils to accelerate curing process and to reduce stability loss due to water damage. It was found that the stabilizing aggregates have both improved shear strength and resistance of the analyzed soils to water damage. It was also recalled that an additive like Portland cement was more effective than lime.