On geotechnical properties of a lime-stabilized soft clay soil in Northern Quebec under freeze-thaw conditions

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Infrastructure development in the growing community of Waskaganish, Quebec has produced an excess quantity of excavated clay. As Waskaganish continues to develop, the issue of clay accumulation and its management is expected to remain for at least the next 20 years. Our collaboration industry partner BluMetric Environmental Inc. is proposing a sustainable value-added strategy that reinforce the soft clay structure using lime-stabilized approach to form a processed granular material suitable for civil and infrastructure work (no need to excavate/stockpile the clay). In warm countries, lime stabilization is used without problems; but in cold regions like Waskaganish, Quebec, some concerns are still present in relation to behavior of lime-stabilized soils at low temperatures, particularly in conditions of freezing and thawing. In this research project, we plan to conduct laboratory tests on lime-stabilized soft clay soils retrieved from Waskaganish area, Northern Quebec to study the impact of freeze and thaw cycles on geotechnical properties of lime-stabilized soils with different lime/clay ratios. The success completion of this project will directly provide a guidance on the optimum lime/clay ratio determination for BluMetric's project at Waskaganish. If the tests are conclusive, the lime treatment of clay could reduce the use of granular resources which are limited in this region of Quebec and reduce the adverse environmental effects of stockpiling clay.