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Comparative Study on the Engineering Performance of Lime- and Cement-Improved Argillaceous Siltstone
Yi Chen1,2,3, Fangcheng Huang1,2,3, Rongcheng Zhan1,4
1Key Laboratory for Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 12, 2026
Summary
Cement stabilization offers superior strength and durability for argillaceous siltstone subgrade fill compared to lime, especially under wet-dry cycles. Lime stabilization can be a viable alternative for less demanding applications, but low dosages are not recommended.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Argillaceous siltstone's water sensitivity limits its use as subgrade fill, particularly under cyclic wet-dry conditions.
- Existing research lacks systematic comparisons of lime and cement stabilization effects on durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate and compare the durability of lime- and cement-improved argillaceous siltstone under wet-dry cycles.
- To evaluate the evolution of strength, water stability, and durability for both improvement schemes.
Main Methods:
- Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were conducted.
- Five wetting-drying cycles were applied to assess durability.
- Stabilizer contents ranged from 3-7% for both lime and cement.
Main Results:
- Cement-improved soil exhibited significantly higher UCS and CBR than lime-improved soil at identical stabilizer contents.
- Cement stabilization showed better water stability, with lower swelling rates compared to lime.
- After five wet-dry cycles, 7% cement-improved soil retained higher strength (78.3%) than 7% lime-improved soil (69.0%).
Conclusions:
- Cement improvement is recommended for high-grade highway roadbeds due to superior strength and durability.
- Lime improvement (at 7% dosage) can be considered for general subgrade sections or where crack resistance is prioritized.
- Low-dosage lime improvement (<5%) is not advised for argillaceous siltstone subgrade engineering.
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