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Q9: Is it necessary to add cement or lime?
A: Not necessarily. Depending on target strength and soil conditions, you can choose between three mix modes: "soil + stabilizer", "soil + cement + stabilizer", or "soil + lime + stabilizer". The stabilizer can be used alone or in combination with inorganic binders.
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Q10: Can stabilized soil be used for winter construction?
A: Stabilized soil has excellent freeze-thaw resistance (strength loss < 15% after 25 cycles). However, construction temperature should not be below 5°C to avoid freezing that may affect the chemical reaction.
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Q11: Can stabilized soil roads support heavy vehicles?
A: Yes. With 7-day unconfined compressive strength ≥ 2.5 MPa and CBR ≥ 80%, properly designed stabilized soil roads can handle heavy trucks and construction machinery.
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Q12: Do stabilized soil roads require special curing?
A: After rolling, cure for at least 7 days (by watering, covering with plastic sheeting, or covering with soil). After curing, a sealing layer can be applied with a special curing liquid to further improve water stability, freeze-thaw resistance, and abrasion resistance.
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Q13: What equipment is needed for construction?
A: Main equipment includes: bulldozer, grader, 18–22 T vibratory roller, road mixer or rotary tiller, water truck (with spray device), dump truck, etc. If cement is added, a cement spreader or manual spreading is also required.
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Q14: What tests are required before construction?
A: Basic soil performance tests (liquid limit, plastic limit, particle size analysis, natural moisture content), compaction tests (to determine optimum moisture content and maximum dry density), and mix design tests (to determine stabilizer and cement/lime dosage).
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Q15: How is the stabilizer mixed with water and sprayed?
A: Dilute the stabilizer with water at the designed ratio (generally 1:100 – 1:500). Use a pressure water truck or spray bar to spray evenly. It is recommended to spray in two portions, mixing after each spray.
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Q16: What is the thickness per layer?
A: The compacted thickness is generally 15–20 cm per layer. For thicker sections, multiple layers can be applied, with each layer cured before the next is placed.