Adding bentonite to sand boosts strength, revolutionizing soil stabilization methods.
Lime treatment can strengthen sandy soil by adding a small amount of clay. Researchers tested different sand-bentonite mixtures treated with lime and compacted under specific conditions. They found that adding a low amount of bentonite to pure sand significantly increased soil strength. However, adding too much bentonite decreased soil strength. There is an optimal amount of bentonite that maximizes soil compressive strength, but this amount depends on how long the soil is left to cure.