Introduction

Soils can be stabilized by the addition of cement or lime. Such stabilization processes improve the various engineering properties of the stabilized soil and generate an improved construction material. Increase in soil strength, durability stiffness, and reduction in soil plasticity and swelling/shrinkage potential are the benefit of soil stabilization [1,2,3,4,5]. The concept of stabilization is 5000 years old. McDowell [6] indicated that stabilized earth roads were used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and that the Greeks and Romans used lime as a stabilizer. However, recent heaving and premature pavement failures in lime and cement-treated subgrades containing sulfates led to questioning the validity of calcium-based stabilization. When expansive soils containing sulfates are treated with calcium-based stabilizers, the calcium from the stabilizer reacts with soil sulfates and alumina to form the expansive mineral ettringite [7,8,9]. The first soil stabilization tests were performed in the United States in 1904 [10]. Cement was introduced as a stabilizer to construct a street in Sarasota, FL, in 1915 (ACI 1997), and lime was first involved in short stretches of highway with the expansion of roads to cater for the growth of vehicle traffic in 1924 [11, 12]. Traditional stabilizers typically depend on pozzolanic reactions and cation exchange to modify and stabilize soil [13, 14]. Pozzolanic reactions occur when siliceous and aluminous materials react chemically with calcium hydroxide at regular temperatures to form cementitious compounds. On the other hand, a cation exchange occurs when the soil is able to exchange free cations available in the exchange locations [15,16,17,18]. The main objectives of this research study is addressed to different types of stabilization and comparing the advantage and disadvantage of each method of stabilization.

Soil stabilization

Generally, soil stabilization is a method of improving soil properties by blending and mixing other materials. Improvements include increasing the dry unit weight, bearing capabilities, volume changes, the performance of in situ subsoils, sands, and other waste materials in order to strengthen road surfaces and other geotechnical applications.

Stabilization using cement

One of the common methods of chemical stabilization is to mix soil with cement to form a product named as soil–cement [19]. Soil–cement can be defined as a mixture of soil and measured amounts of Portland cement and water and compacted to the desired density. Soil–cement has been used as a base material as an adoption of improved measure in many projects, such as slope protection of dams and embankments, pavement of highways, building pads, terminals for rail and truck, composting facilities, cheap base for streets, parking lots, channels and reservoir linings, mass soil–cement placement for dikes, foundation stabilization etc. The soil–cement technique has been practiced almost for 100 years. It serves to amend the mechanical and the engineering properties of the soil. The new performance depends on the ability of the additives to react with the mixing soil. There are four main properties of soil; strength, permeability, volume stability, and durability that can be enhanced with additives [20, 21]. The choice of a specific additive depends on the type of soil, service that is required to serve and the surrounding environment. When water is mixed with cement, hydration occurs, meaning cementing compounds of calcium–silicate–hydrate (C–S–H) and calcium–aluminate–hydrate (C–A–H) are formed and excess calcium hydroxide (CaOH) is released, approximately 31% by weight [22]. Formation of C–S–H and C–A–H occurs when crystals begin forming a few hours after the water and cement are mixed; crystals will continue to form as long as unreacted cement particles and free water remain within the mixture [15]. Five standard types of Portland cement (Types I through V) are available as specified by ASTM C150. The process of cementation and the results of soil–cement and lime stabilization are similar, they used in quantities too small to provide high-strength cementing action. They reduce the plasticity of clay soils. Calcium chloride or sodium chloride are added to the soil to retain moisture and also control dust, to hold fine material for better compaction, and to reduce frost heave by lowering the freezing point of water in the soil. Kezdi [23] reports that cement treatment slightly increases the maximum dry density of sand and highly plastic clays but it decreases the maximum dry density of silt [24]. In contrast studies by Deng and Tabatabai [24] shows that cement increases the optimum water content but decreases the maximum dry density of sandy soils [25]. Cement increases plastic limit and reduces liquid limit, which mainly reduces plasticity index [24]. The other significant effects of soil–cement stabilization is reduction in shrinkage and swell potential, increase in strength, elastic modulus, and resistance against the effect of moisture, freeze, and thaw. Cement treated soils show a brittle behavior compare of non-treated soils [26, 27]. Cement can be applied to stabilize any type of soil, except soils with organic content greater than 2% or having pH lower than 5.3 (ACI 230.1R-90, 1990). The use of cement in granular soils has proven to be economical and effective because smaller amounts of cement are required. In addition, soils that have a PI value higher than 30 are difficult to mix with cement. To avoid this issue, lime can be added prior to mixing in cement; this initial step will keep soils more workable [28,29,30,31].

Khemissa and Mahamedi [32] found that swell pressure decrease as the stabilizer content increased in cement treated samples. Cementitious links develop between the calcium silicate and calcium aluminate found in Portland cement with the soil particles [13, 14, 19]. Unlike lime, hydration in cement occurs at a faster pace which allows for an immediate strength gain. Therefore, there is no need of a mellowing period when stabilizing with cement; compaction of soil–cement samples is typically conducted within 2 h of initial mixing. The strength gain achieved during compaction may be below the ultimate strength of a soil–cement sample [13]. However, the cement stabilized soil will continue to gain strength over the course of several days [17, 33].

There are many factors contributing to the length of curing time required for strength gain in soil–cement samples. These include ambient air temperature, relative humidity, type of cement used, and concentration of cement used. Guthrie and Reese [34] found that the relative strength is sensitive to the previously mentioned factors, while the relative compaction is not. Faster wind speed, higher air temperature, lower relative humidity and longer delay in compaction commonly result in a poor strength.

Stabilization using lime

Limestone is broken down at elevated temperatures to form lime [17]. As a result, three forms of lime are produced: quicklime (calcium oxide–CaO), hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide–Ca[OH]2), and hydrated lime slurry; all of which can be used to treat soils. Quicklime is manufactured by chemically transforming calcium carbonate (limestone–CaCO3) into calcium oxide. Furthermore, hydrated lime is created when quicklime chemically reacts with water. When hydrated lime is mixed with clay particles, it permanently forms strong cementitious bonds [35,36,37]. Lime has been known to reduce the swelling potential, liquid limit, plasticity index and maximum dry density of the soil, and increases its optimum water content, shrinkage limit and strength [19, 38]. It improves the workability and compact ability of subgrade soils [39].

If quicklime is used, it immediately hydrates (i.e., chemically combines with water) and releases heat. Soils are dried, because water present in the soil participates in this reaction, and because the heat generated can evaporate additional moisture. The hydrated lime produced by these initial reactions will subsequently react with clay particles. These subsequent reactions will slowly produce additional drying because they reduce the soil’s moisture holding capacity. If hydrated lime or hydrated lime slurry is used instead of quicklime, drying occurs only through the chemical changes in the soil that reduce its capacity to hold water and increase its stability. After initial mixing, the calcium ions (Ca2+) from hydrated lime migrate to the surface of the clay particles and displace water and other ions. The soil becomes friable and granular, making it easier to work and compact. At this stage the Plasticity Index of the soil decreases dramatically, as does its tendency to swell and shrink. The process, which is called “flocculation and agglomeration,” generally occurs in a matter of hours.

When adequate quantities of lime and water are added, the pH of the soil quickly increases to above 10.5, which enables the clay particles to break down. Silica and alumina are released and react with calcium from the lime to form calcium-silicate-hydrates (CSH) and calcium-aluminate-hydrates (CAH). CSA and CAH are cementitious products similar to those formed in Portland cement. They form the matrix that contributes to the strength of lime-stabilized soil layers. As this matrix forms, the soil is transformed from a sandy, granular material to a hard, relatively impermeable layer with significant load bearing capacity. The matrix formed is permanent, durable, and significantly impermeable, producing a structural layer that is both strong and flexible. However, alteration of particle structure occurs slowly, depending upon the type of clay present, a mellowing period from 1 to 4 days is allowed to obtain a homogeneous, friable mixture. These reactions maybe summarized as:

$${\text{Ca}}^{2 + } + {\text{OH}}^{ - } + {\text{ Soluble Clay Silica }} \to {\text{ Calcium Silicate Hydrate }}\left( {\text{CSH}} \right)$$
(1)
$${\text{Ca}}^{2 + } + {\text{OH}}^{ - } + {\text{ Soluble Clay Alumina }} \to {\text{ Calcium Alumina Hydrate }}\left( {\text{CAH}} \right)$$
(2)

Lime stabilization enhances engineering properties of soils, such as improved strength, higher resistance to fracture, fatigue, and permanent deformation, enhanced resilient properties, reduction in swelling; and resistance to the harmful effects of moisture. The most considerable improvements in these properties are observed in moderately to highly plastic clays [40, 41].

Al-Kiki et al. [42] acknowledged that over the time, the properties of treated soil affect the strength gain. Soil pH, organic content, the quantity of exchangeable sodium, clay mineralogy, natural drainage, weathering conditions, extractable iron, carbonates and silica-alumina ratio are some of the properties which influence the gain in strength. The stabilization of acidic soil using lime, resulted in lower compressive strength than that of alkaline soil. Broderick and Daniel [43] reported that the lime and cement stabilized soils are less vulnerable to attack by organic chemicals in comparison to untreated soils [44]. Haraguchi et al. [44] investigated the variation of the engineering properties of freshly cement-stabilized decomposed granite soil cured in water and in 0.2 N acid solution, and indicated that the CBR obtained from the specimens cured in the 0.2 N acid solution was lower than that cured in water [45]. The strong alkaline conditions were able to release silica and alumina from the clay mineral and eventually react with lime to form new cementation products. The success of the lime treatment process is highly dependent on the available lime content, curing time, soil type, soil pH and clay minerals [46]. Limited research has been conducted to determine whether pH variations will affect properties of lime-stabilized soils. Additional studies are therefore necessary to explain the erosion mechanism of lime-stabilized soils due to pH variations [47,48,49]. However, experience shows that lime will react with many medium-, moderately fine- and fine-grained soils to produce decreased plasticity, increased workability, reduced swell, and increased strength. Soils classified according to the USCS as CH, CL, MH, ML, OH, OL, SC, SM, GC, GM, SW-SC, SP-SC, SM-SC, GWGC, GP-GC, ML-CL, and GM-GC should be considered as potentially capable of being stabilized with lime. Lime should be considered with all soils having a PI greater than 10 and more than 25 percent of the soil passing the No. 200 sieve [FM 5-472/NAVFAC MO 330/AFJMAN 32-1221(I)].

Stabilization using fly ash

Fly ash is one of four coal combustion products (CCPs) that are produced as a by-product of burning coal, two major groups, Class C and Class F fly ash are produced. Burning lignite and subbituminous coal produces Class C fly ash. However, burning anthracite, other known as bituminous coal, produces Class F fly ash [50]. Although there can be multiple variations of the chemical additive, fly ash particles generally consist of hollow spheres of silicon, aluminum, and iron oxides and unoxidized carbon all of which make both classes of fly ash pozzolans-siliceous or siliceous and aluminous materials [50,51,52]. It is typically viewed as non-plastic fine silt (ML) when using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). Class F fly ash is not used as often because it requires an activator, either lime or cement, to form pozzolanic stabilized mixtures (PSMs) since it is not a self-cementing material [53, 54]. Zulkifley et al. [55] assessed the effect of off-specification fly ash on the engineering properties of tropical soils from Hawaii. They observed that the fly ash reduced the liquid limit and plasticity index, and enhanced the California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength. Radhakrishnan et al. [56] performed unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and one-dimensional free swell tests on soil–lime mixtures altered with Class F fly ash. Observations showed that lime and fly ash are a good combination for stabilizing silty and sandy soils. It drastically increased the stiffness of the final product. Rupnow et al. [57] used Class C fly ash with lime to develop guidelines for estimating the coefficient of structural layer for the base layer of flexible pavement. The required base layer thickness decreased with the addition of both additives. Fly ash, when mixed with lime, can be used effectively to stabilize most coarse- and medium-grained soils; however, the PI should not be greater than 25. Soils classified by the USCS as SW, SP, SP-SC, SW-SC, SW-SM, GW, GP, GP-GC, GW-GC, GP-GM, GW-GM, GC-GM, and SC-SM can be stabilized with fly ash.

Soil stabilization using fibers

The use of hair-sized polypropylene fibers in soil stabilization requests has been common in soil stabilization projects for its low cost compared with other stabilization agents. These materials have a high resistance towards chemical and biological degradation and do not cause leaching in the soil [58]. Sharma et al. [59] studied the improvement in the properties of swelling clay using hay fibers. They found that there was no considerable or reasonable change in the Atterberg limits due to introduction of hay fiber. The maximum dry density (MDD) decreased with the addition of hay. The optimum moisture content (OMC) decreased with increasing hay content up-to 1.0% then began to decrease. The shrinkage limit decreased with increasing hay content up-to 1.0% then increased. The unconfined compression strength decreased with increasing of hay content to soil ratio. The direct shear strength increased notably with hay addition. The tensile strength of the air dried mixture increased with hay addition and the swelling decreased with hay addition.

Mirzababaei et al. [60] studied unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of reinforced clays with the waste of carpet fibers. They found that carpet waste fibers mixed with clay soils, prepared at the same dry unit weight, can considerably increase the unconfined compression strength (UCS), decrease the post peak strength loss, and alter the failure behavior from brittle to ductile. The results also indicated that the relative benefit of fibers to enhance the UCS of the clay soils is largely dependent on initial dry unit weight and water content of the soil. Cristelo et al. [61] studied the performance of fiber reinforced clayey soil. They found that the excessively compressible clayey soil reinforced with randomly mixed fibers, resulted in higher ultimate bearing capacity, and lesser settlement at the ultimate load. Yilmaz [62] in studying the compaction characteristics of reinforced soil, found that the addition of fiber, affected compaction behavior of samples. The increment in fiber content and length of fiber caused increment in optimum moisture content (OMC) and slight decrement of maximum dry density (MDD). Anagnostopoulos et al. [63] found that with the inclusion of fibers into the soil, the unconfined compressive strength and the corresponding strain at failure increase up to an optimum fiber content and length, and decrease thereafter. In addition; inclusion of fibers in soil increases the strain at failure, and therefore makes the reinforced soil matrix more ductile. The settlement under a particular load in unreinforced soil is much more than the reinforced soil. Minimum settlement being observed for the soil reinforced with polypropylene fibers.

Anggraini et al. [21] studied the stiffness and strength response of coir fiber-reinforced tropical soil. They found that the stress–strain behavior of soil improved by incorporating coir fibers into the soil. The maximum increase in strength was observed when the fiber length is between 15 and 25 mm. The stiffness of soil increases and also the immediate settlement of soil reduced considerably due to the inclusion of fibers in the soil. Shukla et al. [64] studied analytical model of granular soils reinforced with fibers, under high confining pressures. They found that the apparent cohesion and shear strength increase is proportional to the fiber content and aspect ratio. The increase in shear strength of the granular soil stabilized with fibers was mostly from the apparent cohesion, and the contribution from the increase in normal confining stress was quite limited. Estabragh et al. [20] studied the mechanical behavior of a fiber-clay composite with natural fiber. They found that the inclusion of the fiber reinforcement within the soil causes a decrease in pre-consolidation stress and increases compressibility and swelling indices. In addition, the strength and angle of internal friction increase considerably for the total and effective stresses.

Mechanisms of stabilization

Mechanisms of stabilization that utilize cement, lime, or fly ash were summarized by Little [40] as follows:

  • Cation exchange: sodium, magnesium, and other cations are replaced by the calcium cations from the available calcium hydroxide.

  • Flocculation and agglomeration: flocculation of the clay particles increases the effective grain size and reduces plasticity, thus increasing the strength of the matrix.

  • Pozzolanic reaction: the high pH environment created by the available calcium hydroxide solubilizes silicates and aluminates at the clay surface, which in turn react with calcium ions to form cementitious products that are composed primarily of calcium silicate hydrates or calcium aluminate hydrates, or both.

  • Carbonate cementation: calcium oxide reacts with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate precipitates, which cement the soil particles.

Cementitious hydration reaction, where calcium silicates and/or calcium aluminates, which are chemically combined in the production of Portland cement clinker or in the coal burning (fly ash) process, hydrate rapidly (within a few hours) for calcium silicate and/or calcium aluminate hydrates. The chemical reactions during the hydration procedure include, but are not limited to, some or all of the reactions listed below [65].

$$2 {\text{C}}_{ 2} {\text{S}}\, + \, 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}} \, \to \, {\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{S}}_{ 2} {\text{H}}_{ 3} \, + \, 3 {\text{Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2}$$
(3)
$$2 {\text{C}}_{ 2} {\text{S }}\,{ + }\, 4 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\, \to \,{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{S}}_{ 2} {\text{H}}_{ 3} \,{ + }\,{\text{Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2}$$
(4)
$${\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{A }}\,{ + }\, 3\left( {{\text{CaSO}}_{ 4} 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right) \, \to \, 2 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\, \to \,{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{A}} \cdot 3 {\text{CaSO}}_{ 4} \cdot 3 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}$$
(5)
$$2 {\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{A }}\,{ + }\,{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{A3 CaSO}}_{ 4} 3 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\, \to \, 3\left[ {{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{ACaSO}}_{ 4} 1 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right]$$
(6)
$${\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{S }}\,{ + }\, {\text{Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2} \,{ + }\, 1 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\, \to \, {\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{A Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2} 1 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}$$
(7)
$${\text{C}}_{ 4} {\text{AF }}\,{ + }\, 3\left( {{\text{CaSO}}_{ 4} 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right) \,{ + }\, 2 7 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\, \to \,{\text{C}}_{ 3} \left( {\text{AF}} \right) 3 {\text{CaSO}}_{ 4} {\text{ 32H}}_{ 2} {\text{O }}\,{ + }\,{\text{Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2}$$
(8)
$$\begin{aligned} 2 {\text{C}}_{ 4} {\text{AF}}\,{ + }\,{\text{C}}_{ 3} ( {\text{AF)3CaSO}}_{ 4} {\text{ 32H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\,{ + }\, 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\,\, \to \,\, 3\left[ {{\text{C}}_{ 3} ( {\text{AF)CaSO}}_{ 4} 1 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right]\,{ + }\, \hfill \\ 2 {\text{Ca(OH)}}_{ 2} \hfill \\ \end{aligned}$$
(9)
$${\text{C}}_{ 4} {\text{AF}}\, { + }\, 1 0 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O + 2Ca}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2} \, \to \,{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{AH}}_{ 6} \, - \,{\text{C}}_{ 3} {\text{FH}}_{ 6} \,\left( {\text{Solid Solution}} \right)$$
(10)

Two popular theories on the mechanisms of stabilization, namely the crystalline theory by Le Chatelier [66], and the gel theory proposed by Taylor [67], have been integrated into a combined gel/crystalline theory that describe the different stages of curing. Li [68] provided a detailed description of the hydration process of cement concrete: If a proper amount of moisture is available to ensure complete hydration of the cement, then each cement particle is covered with water and thus forms a gel-like film. These coated particles of cement coat the aggregate or soil particles as well. At this stage, the cement has not begun to set. The reaction between the water and the cement forms small single crystals. With the development of hydration, the single crystals begin to grow into one another and form a crystalline network. The adjoining crystals are attracted to one another by van der Waals forces instead of a chemical bond. Figure 1 illustrates this process.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Bonding process between cement particles and sand particles [68]

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Advantages and disadvantages of calcium-based additives

Soil stabilization using calcium-based additives involve advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of calcium-based additives are discussed here.

Advantages

The following list presents some of the engineering advantages of calcium-based soil stabilization [69]:

  • Functions as a working platform (expedites construction).

  • Reduces the need for dusting.

  • Waterproofs the soil.

  • Upgrades marginal aggregates or soils.

  • Improves strength.

  • Improves durability.

  • Controls volume changes of soils.

  • Improves soil workability.

  • Dries wet soils.

  • Reduces pavement thickness requirements.

  • Conserves aggregate.

  • Reduces construction and haul costs.

  • Conserves energy.

  • Provides a temporary or permanent wearing surface.

In spite of the significant advantages mentioned above, many serious disadvantages are inherent from calcium-based stabilizers. These disadvantages are as follows:

Negative environmental impact

Global warming is a serious threat which our planet is facing [70]. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the main factors for this warming [71,72,73,74]. Cement manufacturing is a process which emits CO2 in large amount [71, 75,76,77]. Cement industry alone produces about 10% of total CO2 emission [78]. Cement manufacturing emits CO2 through decarbonisation of limestone, burning fossil fuels, electricity, and transportation.

Sulfate attack and carbonation

Two deleterious chemical reactions occur in the soils treated with calcium-based materials. One of the sulfate salts existing in the soil and two lime carbonation. In the soils containing sulfates, any calcium-based additives results in heaving and disintegration leading to a loss in strength [79,80,81]. Soil composition, groundwater and mixed water can be the source of sulfates [82,83,84]. Chemical reaction between calcium and aluminum present in the soil mineralogy in the company of soluble sulfate and water produce ettringite and/or thaumasite. Ettringite is a hydrous calcium aluminium sulfate mineral with formula: \({\text{Ca}}_{ 6} {\text{Al}}_{ 2} \left( {{\text{SO}}_{ 4} } \right) 3\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 1 2} \cdot 2 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\). It is a colorless to yellow mineral crystallizing in the trigonal system. The prismatic crystals are typically colorless, turning white on partial dehydration. Calcium sulfate sources, such as gypsum, are intentionally added to Portland cement to regulate early hydration reactions to prevent flash setting, improve strength development, and reduce drying shrinkage. Sulfate and aluminate are also present in supplementary cementitious materials and admixtures. Gypsum and other sulfate compounds react with calcium aluminate in the cement to form ettringite within the first few hours after mixing with water. Most of the sulfate in the cement is normally consumed to form ettringite at early ages. The formation of ettringite in the fresh, plastic concrete is the mechanism that controls stiffening. At this stage ettringite is uniformly and discretely dispersed throughout the cement paste at a submicroscopic level (less than a micrometer in cross-section). Thaumasite is a silicate mineral with chemical formula \({\text{Ca}}_{ 3} {\text{Si}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right) 6\left( {{\text{CO}}_{ 3} } \right) \cdot \left( {{\text{SO}}_{ 4} } \right) \cdot 1 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\). It occurs as colorless to white prismatic hexagonal crystals, typically as acicular radiating groups. It also occurs as fibrous masses. Its Mohs hardness is 3.5 and it has a specific gravity of 1.88–1.90 [85, 86].

Effect of organic materials

Chan and Heenan [87] suggested that the high microbial biomass present in the organic soil activates rates of decomposition in organic soils treated with lime resulting into reduction in pH value. In addition, clay minerals are in lesser quantity in the organic soil. Therefore, the organic materials slow down the pozzolanic reaction necessary to attain soil strength [88, 89]. The organic soil is characterized by high water with holding capacity that may lead to a reduction in available water for the hydration process. Furthermore, organic materials coat the additive particles thus holding up the hydration process [90].

According to Morse et al. [91], there is a great tendency for the reaction between calcium ions and black humic acid generated from lime to produce insoluble calcium humic acid. Hossain et al. [92] indicated that the decomposition of organic materials hinders the polymerization of silicate. Thus, the cementitious formation is blocked by organic materials. Though, it is key to know that not all of the organic materials block cementitious reaction. Some have no effects such as chloronaphthalene and others retard hydration reaction but do not affect soil strength gain such as ethylene glycol, benzoic acid, cellulose [93, 94].

Cement-treated soil to face the similar situation as mentioned for soils treated with lime. Sasanian and Newson [95] and Zhang et al. [96] observed that the soil treated with cement is susceptible to organic materials hindering the chemical reaction which produces cementitious materials. Huat et al. [93] reported that soil containing organic acids and having pH less than 9 inhibit the cementing reaction. For the purpose to reduce the negative effect of organic materials, bentonite is added to the organic soil. This treatment provides two benefits, one, bentonite has high water retention ability, which is favorable for lime hydration. Two, bentonite is the source of silica for pozzolanic reaction and can become a filler [97, 98]. Kaolinite and zeolite may also be used for lime treated soil having humic acid [98,99,100]. This gives enough amount of silica that is required for pozzolanic process.

Problems in sulfate soils stabilized with lime/cement

Though lime stabilization improves the volume and strength characteristics of the expansive soils, there are some limitations to lime stabilization. These limitations include the presence of organic carbon and soluble sulfates. It has been reported that the presence of organic carbon in excess of one percent can interfere with the pozzolanic reactions, leading to low strength gains. Compared to organic carbon, the presence of sulfates is of higher concern because lime treatment in these types of soils leads to excessive heaving and pavement failures [7, 8, 81, 101,102,103,104,105]. It has been reported that when soils contain sulfate minerals such as gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) in their natural formation and are treated with calcium-based stabilizers, adverse reactions occur, causing severe heave and pavement distress. These adverse reactions are due to formation of expansive minerals, ettringite \(\left( {{\text{Ca}}_{ 6} \cdot \left[ {{\text{Al}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 6} } \right]_{ 2} \cdot \left( {{\text{SO}}_{ 4} } \right)_{ 3} \cdot 2 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right)\), and thaumasite \(\left( {{\text{Ca}}_{ 6} \cdot \left[ {{\text{Si}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 6} } \right]_{ 2} \cdot \left( {{\text{SiO}}_{ 4} } \right) \cdot \left( {{\text{CO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 2} \cdot 2 4 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right)\). This phenomenon was first reported by Sherwood [3]. There are several sources of sulfates in soils, produced from primary or secondary origin. Primary sources can be defined as the direct sources of sulfates in their natural form, as sulfate-bearing minerals such as gypsum while, the secondary sources are those that are not a direct source of sulfate but give out sulfates as a by-product of oxidation or other forms of chemical interactions. The following section highlights these sources.

Recent studies have revealed that the soil containing sulfates, when treated with lime or cement undergo excessive swelling and pavement failures [8, 106, 107]. These failures are due to the formation of ettringite [3, 86, 108]. Reactions between lime, alumina, and sulfates in the soils produce an expansive crystalline mineral called ettringite \(\left( {{\text{Ca}}_{ 6} \cdot \left[ {{\text{Al}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 6} } \right]_{ 2} \cdot \left( {{\text{SO}}_{ 4} } \right)_{ 3} \cdot 2 6 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right)\), and thaumasite \(\left( {{\text{Ca}}_{ 6} \cdot \left[ {{\text{Si}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 6} } \right]_{ 2} \cdot \left( {{\text{SiO}}_{ 4} } \right) .\left( {{\text{CO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 2} \cdot 2 4 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}} \right)\). Generally, it is recommended that for the sulfate enriched soils, lime and cement treatments should be chosen cautiously [86, 109, 110].

Soil–lime–sulphate reactions

Lime–soil reactions are grouped into two, short term and long term reactions. Short term reactions are flocculation, pH and cation exchange reactions, lime migration carbonation, and these affect the physical properties of the soil such as consistency limits and grain size distribution. The long-term pozzolanic reactions consist of formation of various products, resulting in the growth new materials and affect the strength and compressibility of clays [104, 111]. Takemoto and Uchikawa [112] explained the reaction mechanism of C3S pozzolanic compounds, and ettringite formation through pozzolanic reactions, in a schematic way as shown in Fig. 3.

Takemoto and Uchikawa [112] proposed schematic explanations of the C3S-pozzolan reaction and C3A-pozzolan reaction, which are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. According to the authors, in C3S-pozzolan system, calcium ions dissolved from C3S route around freely in liquid and are adsorbed on the surfaces of pozzolan particles. C–S–H made by the hydration of C3S precipitate as the hydrates of high Ca/Si ratio on the surface of C3S grains and as the porous hydrates of low Ca/Si ratio on the surfaces of pozzolan particles. Attack of the pozzolan surface in water brings about gradual dissolution of Na+ and K+, resulting in Si and Al rich amorphous layer on the surfaces. Dissolved Na+ and K+ raise the OH− concentration and speed up the dissolution of SiO −44 and layer. Due to the osmotic pressure, the layer swells slowly and the void between layer and pozzolan particle is formed. When the pressure in the void breaks the film, SiO −44 and AlO2 − diffuse into the Ca2+ rich solution. In addition, C–S–H and Ca–Al hydrate precipitate on the surface of outer hydrates of C3S particles and to a slight degree on the broken film. Vacant space remains inside the film as the hydrates do not precipitate there because of high concentration of alkalies. For pozzolans with low alkalies, damage of amorphous Si, Al rich film enables Ca2+ to travel into the inside of the film and precipitate calcium silicate and calcium aluminate hydrates on the surface of pozzolan grain. Therefore, no space is witnessed between pozzolan grains and hydrates.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Reaction mechanism involved in the development of C3S-Pozzolana grains [23]

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Schematic development of ettringite formation [23]

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The hydration of the C3A-pozzolan system was first observed by Uchikawa and Uchida [23]. Figure 3 illustrates the schematic development of the C3A-pozzoloan system in the presence of calcium hydroxide and gypsum. Uchikawa and Uchida [112], pointed out that the presence of the pozzolan speeds up the hydration of C3A by adsorbing Ca2+ from the liquid phase and by providing precipitation sites for ettringite and other hydrates. The C3A-pozzolan reaction system is comparable to Aluminate hydrate, and calcium silicate hydrate are shaped on the surface film outside the pozzolan particles of on the surface hydrate layer of the C3A particles, depending on the concentration of Ca2+ and SiO −24 in solution.

Conclusion

Based on the short review of this study, desiccation, swelling, shrinkage, and cracks in clayey soil are common natural phenomena, and it significantly impacts the soil’s mechanical and hydraulic behavior. Treatment of the soil with cement reduces the volume changes in soils but this type of treatment becomes unsuitable for soils with high plasticity index. Soil treated with lime and exposed to wetting and drying cycles results in loss of cohesion between the grains of soil and lime, which leads to increase in soil volume. Thus, the method of treatment with lime is only good for places that are not exposed to the wetting and drying cycles. Fiber treatment is considered one of the best methods in the prevention of cracks because, with increase in the content, there is a great reduction in the cracks. Fiber also increases the strength of the soil but it is not effective for all type of soils especially clayey soils where hydraulic conductivity have been found to increase with the addition of fiber.