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Firms dealing with construction works face distresses when the soil on which they work turns into sludge with the effect of the water. Such situations would cause loss of time as well as increasing costs. (Image 1)
While it costs a lot to expect the soil which has turned into sludge to dry with the effect of the sun or in the course of time, or to extract the slushy part and transfer it to another region; it also brings many problems along. The simplest and the most practical way of avoiding these problems is the use of lime.
If the clay soil which has been dewatered with lime gets in contact with water again later, it displays resistance against the water and enables working in the same site without any problem. Sinking, sliding of the vehicles and skidding of tires are prevented in the construction sites where this method has been applied. Increasing the working efficiency, it ensures favorable working environment. (Image 2)
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Image 1:
Factory Site before Application |
Resim 2:
Factory Site after Application |
Lime is used in quicklime and slaked lime forms during the dewatering of the sludge soil. Dewatering capacity of quicklime is greater than that of slaked lime and it dewaters more quickly. While quicklime is generally used in the form of unground lime, it is also used in ground and granular forms.
Use of lime is economical. For the dewatering of clay-containing soil, lime amounting approximately to 3 to 5 per cent of the soil's weight in dry form is required, depending on the soil's water content. The appropriate amount can be found with an experiment under construction site conditions
Dewatering of Sludge Soil:
Use of lime in dewatering of sludge soil is realized in three simple steps
1. Lime is laid,
2. Soil and lime are mixed,
3. Compaction practice is realized.
1.Laying Lime: Practical application of lime on the site might be realized with bagged lime. Bags are carried to the desired site and poured. (Image 3) If the soil contains excessive amounts of water, the lime laid has to be kept waiting for 1 to 2 hours on the surface before mixing, so that the water can be dried. Lime laying can also be realized with a silo bus if it is possible to provide in the area on which the application will be realized.
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Image 3:
Laying Bag Lime |
Image 4:
Mixing Clay-Soil and Lime |
2. Mixing: Once the lime is laid, mixing can be realized with simple hand tools such as rake, hoe etc. Several transition applications can be realized until the soil-lime mixture reaches the required dryness level. Having a mixture on a small area in the first step enables us to determine whether it has reached the target level of dryness or not. If the target level of dryness is not achieved, level of lime application is increased. Mixing can be realized with tools such as ripper, plough etc if it is possible to provide. (Image 4)
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Image 5:
Compaction |
Image 6:
Sludge Material Improved with Lime |
3. Compaction: Once the soil material is mixed with lime, it loses its adhesive nature and gains a granular structure. (Image 6) Vehicles can easily pass over the area on which the application has been realized. Hence, works continue, and at the same time compaction practice is realized as vehicles pass over. Compaction practice can be realized after mixing with a road roller if it is possible to provide. (Image 5)
CONCLUSION:
Dewatering with lime can be practically realized even with very simple hand tools. It is established that the soil dewatered with lime gains resistance against water and the adhesive nature of the clay material disappears after lime is applied. Along with preventing the sludge in the construction site, it has also provided a favorable working environment and economicality in a very short time.
SOURCE:
http://www.lime.org/mud.pdf
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