A real scale experimental dike in lime-treated soil: Evaluation of the methodology, mechanical and hydraulic performance

摘要

Soil improvement and stabilization with lime is a technique widely used for roads, highways andrnplatforms construction. Addition of lime improves workability, bearing capacity, mechanical resistance of siltyrnand clayey soils; although not a new concept, it has been practiced less frequently in dike construction. Recentrnresearch programs led by Lhoist Group, a lime producer, have shown the specific conditions which should bernapplied in the context of hydraulic structures both for the treatment with lime and placement of treated materials.rnA series of relevant properties was evidenced, enhancing the real potential of this technique for constructionrnor renovation of hydraulic earthen structures. To confirm those results at large scale, an experimental structurernwas constructed by CER (Experimental and Research Center) of Cerema, in Le Grand Quevilly/France. Thernstructure consists in 2 full-scale experimental dry dikes, the first one built with 2.5% lime-treated silty soil andrnthe other using the native soil (without treatment).The present paper deals with the results of short- and long-termrnbehaviour of those two dikes through in situ and lab tests (on cored specimens). Both mechanical and hydraulicrnproperties have been investigated. Those contributions show that the lime treatment is a promising techniquernallowing the valorisation of soils with poor engineering properties and inadequate hydraulic behaviour.