Engineering Properties of Soil Stabilize with Cement

Soils often cause difficulties in subgrade performance with their low stiffness nature. However, the engineering properties of these soils can be enhanced by soil stabilize with cement. This research was carried out to study the potential of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) stabilization in soil around the area of Taiping, Perak. The objectives of this research are determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content as well as CBR value for undisturbed soil and soil added with cement (Soil Cement Mixture). Compaction Test was applied to determine the maximum dry unit weight and the optimum moisture content of the soils. From this testing, the maximum dry unit was obtained for undisturbed sample are 1.863Mg/m³ and the optimum mosture content are 11.4%. However, optimum moisture content for soil cement mixture are slightly higher which is 14.1% and the maximum dry density are 1.791Mg/m³. The result shows that, changes in optimum moisture content and dry density with addition of cement are not always predictable. Flocculation of soil particles by cement can cause an increase in optimum moisture content and decrease in maximum dry density. Secondly, to obtain the CBR value by performing the CBR Test for both sample of soil under soaked conditions. Based on the result obtained, it is possible to conclude that 2.5% of cement as chemically additive would provide the optimum moisture content at maximum CBR value. The CBR value for undisturbed soil are 74% compare to soil cement mixture which is 93%. The results indicate that as cement amount in the mixture are added, the optimum moiture content and CBR values also increased. Overall, 2.5% are the effective amount should be added in existing soil for subgrade preaparation. A new method for strenghthening the subgrade performance are now can be introduced and the objective of this research was achieved.