Comparative Analysis of International Design Protocols for Lime-Based Soil Stabilization

Abstract:

Soil stabilization is a critical technique in the geotechnical engineering discipline, whose main purpose is to enhance the mechanical properties and long-term durability of subgrade materials used in infrastructure construction. Of the wide range of stabilization techniques, lime treatment is especially common because it can cause profound physicochemical changes in the soil matrix. Through the use of mechanisms like cation exchange, flocculation, and pozzolanic reactions, lime modifies the soil properties, thus increasing workability, reducing plasticity, and allowing the formation of cementitious compounds, namely calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) and calcium aluminate hydrates (C-A-H). The by-products of these chemical reactions result in enhanced compressive strength, reduced volumetric instability, and enhanced resistance to environmental factors. This study offers a systematic analysis of international design recommendations relevant to soil-lime stabilization, focusing in particular on the methods utilized in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The expressed recommendations reflect significant differences in soil classification systems, testing methods, optimization of lime addition, and performance assessment criteria, reflecting the unique engineering practices and environmental settings present in each nation. Through a critical analysis of these methodological differences, this study aims to enable the implementation of more consistent, performance-based stabilization methods that enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of soil treatment procedures within the field of geotechnical engineering.

• Periodical: Construction Technologies and Architecture (Volume 21)
• Pages: 121-135
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-7U0Lh3
• Online since: January 2026
• Authors: Mharzi Alaoui Fakhr Eddine*, Ben Abbou Somaya, Aalil Issam
• Keywords: Design Methodologies, Geotechnical Engineering, International Standards, Lime Treatment, Pozzolanic Reaction, Soil Stabilization

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