Feasibility of lime and biopolymer treatment for soft clay improvement: a comparative and complementary approach

Abstract Highway pavement infrastructure projects which involve soil improvement should be executed, ensuring environmental sustainability. In the present study, guar gum (GG) and lime were assessed for purpose of soft clay stabilization. The experimental program stabilization employed a two-stage process. initial stage involves treatment with various percentages (3, 5, 7, 9%) GG (0.6, 1.0, 1.4, 1.8%), maintaining same material acquisition cost considering curing (0, 14, 28 days) unconfined compressive strength (UCS). second stage, complementary approach in 3% was combined at (0.1, 0.2, 0.3%) employed. tests conducted include UCS, California bearing ratio (CBR), loss resistance (SLR). Results show that sole use resulted significant albeit better. While UCS improved time lime-stabilized soil, gain occurred only up to 7 days because biodegradation by microbes ensues on further curing. Lime-GG better CBR than stabilization; however, yielded SLR. optimum additive content obtained + 0.3% GG. Microstructural analysis indicated cementation stabilized soil. Predictive models developed based regression methods. Model evaluation revealed Gaussian process model provided best prediction.