Results of laboratory tests on specimens produced from subsoil studies were evaluated tocharacterize geotechnical properties of Tabriz Marl. It was concluded that, Tabriz Marl may be considered as a high liquid limit silt or clay (MH & CH). Range of changes of index, physical and mechanical properties of the Tabriz Marl are comparatively vast. Correlation between these properties has been introduced in this paper. A representative specimen was tested for swell potential after compaction and also for thermal and lime treatment effects. Swell percent and pressure as high as 13.6 % and 1020 kPa were measured and need for treatment was proved. It was shown that with thermal treatment substantial modification only starts as the temperature rises beyond 300° C. At 500°C the plasticity index and also the swell percent decrease to less than 5.0 % and 1.0 %, respectively. With lime treatment, plasticity index decreases as the lime content is increased until the lime fixation point is achieved at about 3 % lime content, beyond which, modification effects are not considerable.Addition of just 1.0 % lime to the soil decreased the swell potential to 5.0 %. Further results, merits and shortcomings of both treatment methods are introduced during the text.
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