Key parameters for tensile and compressive strength of silt–lime mixtures

A dosage methodology for lime-treated soils has previously been established based on rational criteria where the porosity/lime ratio plays a fundamental role in the assessment of the target unconfined compressive strength (q u ). The present research extends this previous work by quantifying the influence of the amount of lime, the porosity and the porosity/lime ratio in the assessment on tensile strength (q t ) of soil–lime mixtures, as well as in the evaluation of the q t /q u relationship. A programme of splitting tensile tests and unconfined compression tests considering three distinct dry unit weights and four lime contents, varying from 3 to 9%, was carried out in the present study. The results show that a power function fits q t and q u values well with increasing volumetric lime content and a power function fits q t and q u values well with reducing porosity of the compacted mixture. The porosity/lime ratio is demonstrated to be an appropriate parameter to assess both q t and q u of the silt–lime mixture studied. Finally, the q t /q u relationship is unique for the silt–lime studied, being independent of the porosity/lime ratio.