Dynamic response of chemically treated sulfate-rich clay under cyclic wetting-drying

A series of resonant column tests (ASTM D 4015-92) were conducted on chemically treated specimens of high-plasticity, sulfate-rich clay from southeast Arlington, Texas. Test results were used to assess the influence of cyclic wetting-drying on linear/non-linear dynamic properties of treated soil. Specimens were tested for one stabilizer type, one stabilizer dosage, best performance compaction moisture content, increasing confining pressures (0--20 psi), and increasing number of wetting-drying cycles (0--32 cycles).; Sulfate resistant type V cement was used as chemical stabilizer. Linear dynamic properties investigated include small-strain shear modulus (G max) and material damping ratio (Dmin). Non-Linear dynamic properties investigated include threshold strain limit gammath and modulus and damping degradation rates G/Gmax and D/D min.; Cyclic wetting-drying exerted a considerable detrimental effect on both control and treated soils. Type V cement treated soil, however, performs better than control soil, even at higher number of w-d cycles (32 w-d cycles).