Abstract

The implementation of conventional soil-cement stabilization techniques is hindered by the relatively large particle size of road pavement materials. This study aims to investigate the effects of the gradations of soil particles, cement content, and water content on the soil-cement materials (real construction materials collected from the field) used for pavement. Recycled crushed rock obtained from the pulverizing process of pavement was reconstituted into five groups with different particle sizes (from large to small). A series of modified compaction tests and unconfined compressive strength tests were performed. The main results of this study determine that the addition of cement can alter the compaction characteristics of the reconstituted recycled material-cement mixtures. From the compaction tests, the different gradations of soil particles and cement content do not have a great effect on the maximum dry unit weight of a soil-cement mixture used for pavement. Furthermore, the difference in the gradation of soil particles has a much lesser effect on unconfined compressive strength of the soil-cement used for pavement than its cement content and  water content. Finally, at a given cement content, maintaining a moisture levels in a soil-cement mixture during construction (compaction) is necessary for the consistent performance of soil-cement materials.

Key words: Soil-cement stabilization, road pavement, recycled pavement material, unconfined compressive strength, soil particle size distribution