Strength characteristics and mix design of full-depth reclamation of asphalt pavement with cement

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2024-08, Vol.438, p.136901, Article 136901
• Main Authors: Kampala, Apichit, Suebsuk, Jirayut, Daprom, Pattawitchaya, Arngbunta, Anukun, Chindaprasirt, Prinya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Base course; Cement stabilization; Curing time; Moisture content; Pavement recycling; Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136901

The research presents the strength characteristics and theoretical mix design of full-depth reclamation (FDR) with cement for road maintenance and rehabilitation. The reclaimed aggregates used in the study were pulverized and blended on the investigation site by the recycler machine. The FDR mix design covered the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed base, and reclaimed subbase courses. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was tested on the FDR with cement under different mix proportions, cement content, moisture content, and curing time. Two factors that affect the UCS of FDR, viz., moisture-induced packing density and moisture for cement hydration, were observed. The mix proportion with 40 % RAP required at least 6 % cement to stabilize the FDR for use as a bound base course as per the standard, while the effective limit of cement content for FDR was 9 %. The strength prediction model of FDR with cement was presented theoretically based on the modified soil-moisture/cement ratio concept. The verification of the proposed strength model was performed using 7 and 28-day UCS from another investigation site. The design recommendations for FDR with cement were summarized. This discovery could offer a cost-effective and precise method for the mix design of FDR with cement. •Reclaimed materials in FDR were blended and stabilized with cement.•Strength of FDR with cement can be normalized by a modified soil-moisture/cement ratio.•Strength prediction model was adopted for FDR with cement.•Case study for verification of the strength prediction model was conducted.•Step-by-step mix design of FDR with cement was summarized.