Base Course Modification through Stabilization using Cement and Bitumen

Abstract

The main objectives of this research was to analyze the use of combined cement and bitumen emulsion in base course stabilization in details and examine its replacement with conventional pavement in regions with low quality materials and limited construction period. To conduct the objectives, the research divided into three phases. Phase I involved the optimization of cement and bitumen emulsion. In this case, a series of Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and Marshal Tests carried out. In the second phase, various alternative roadway sections examined for minimizing the pavement thickness and increasing the bearing capacity and finally in third phase, a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) machine used to examine the pavement bearing capacity for three sections of the roadway. It was found that, the optimum values to eliminate the creation of shrinkage cracks in the whole project and minimize the execution period and construction costs were 3% for both binders in stabilization and its replacement with conventional pavement method (i.e., stabilized layer with conventional sub-base and base layers). Also, FWD results showed that, the bearing capacity of the constructed pavement using stabilization method is far beyond the predicted values in pavement design. Furthermore, it was found that, with high inflation rate and political situation in the region, base stabilized method decreased the final roadway construction costs in compare with conventional pavement method.