ABSTRACT
This study showed the improvement of the strength properties of lateritic soil with lime for construction. The soil sample was collected from latitudes of 6o 22'57.504''N and longitudes of 5 o 35'1.248''E Uwelu village, Benin city Edo state, and the soil sample was then taken to University of Benin civil engineering lab were it was subjected to preliminary tests such as natural moisture content, specific gravity, particle size analysis, atterberg limit, compaction test, and triaxial test, in its natural or unstabilized state, and when stabilised with lime stabilizer at 3%, 6%, and 9%. Based on the AASHTO classification of soil, the results gotten for the natural or unstabilized soil (in table 4.1), shows that the soil is not suitable for construction because, the angle of cohesion and the angle of friction indicate a moderate shear strength and so it may require specific construction techniques and soil improvement methods to ensure its suitability. However after lime stabilisation was carried out on the natural soil, the angle of cohesion increased from its initial value of 22.0, to a value of 26.00, the angle of friction increased from its initial value of 3.20 to a value of 4.35; also, the liquid limit and plastic limit showed an increase from an initial value of 55.10 to a value of 61.65 and 32.93 to 33.19. In summary, the results observed after stabilisation with lime, shows an increase in the strength properties of the soil. Therefore, the soil is said to be suitable for construction.
