Estimation of shear strength parameters of a high plasticity clayey soil stabilized with lime at different curing temperatures using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is useful to find the optimum value of the response, to examine the relationship between independent variables and responses, or to shorten very complicated and timeconsuming numerical analyses. Although the RSM is a commonly used method in many branches of engineering, the use of this method is limited in geotechnical studies. In this study, the effect of curing temperature on shear strength and unconfined compressive strength parameters of lime stabilized clayey soil was examined. Within the scope of the study, it was aimed to evaluate the Response Surface Method to estimate these parameters with less experimental effort. In the study effect of the temperature was controlled with five different curing temperature level (3 degrees C, 13 degrees C, 23 degrees C, 33 degrees C, 43 degrees C). Three axial (UU) and unconfined compression tests were performed on 40 pieces of stabilized soil samples cured along 28 days at various temperatures. The experimental design was performed with Response Surface Methodology to reduce the test number. Within this scope, an equation was derived statistically to estimate the deviator strength of the samples. Statistical analyses were performed considering deviator strengths of the 18 pieces of samples. As a result of the study, it was seen that it is possible to estimate shear strength and unconfined compression strengths of the samples accurately by using fewer test numbers with Response Surface Methodology.