Abstract
The Azoreans rely on an extensive network of rural roads for the most of the rural population’s activities (primary sector) and accessibility. To rehabilitate and maintain this network, asphalt concrete and crushed rock aggregate are usually used. However, in the region, the application of such paving technology can be extremely costly. It requires specialized contractors, dedicated equipment and raw materials that must be imported to most of the islands. Therefore, the use of locally available materials would result in more flexibility and fewer costs for planned interventions. In the Azores, known as bagacina, the volcanic scoria is a pyroclastic material, generally highly abundant in volcanic islands. This natural aggregate is inexpensive, easy to extract, and presents good geotechnical characteristics. However, due to its porous nature, it generally does not comply with the current specifications for pavement materials. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate cement-treated volcanic scoria to be used as low-traffic road pavement layers. The geotechnical properties and mechanical performance of the two types of scoriae were analyzed. As a result, both types of scoriae presented good behavior, according to the expected for a cement-treated material, and proved to be a suitable alternative for road pavements in the Azores Archipelago.
Highlights
IntroductionThe archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous Portuguese region, is a part of Macaronesia, a group of volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean
This study investigated cement-treated volcanic scoria as a paving material for lowtraffic rural roads
The geotechnical properties of the volcanic scoria were characterized through particle size distribution, particle density, water absorption, sand equivalent, methylene blue, organic matter and modified Proctor compaction tests
Summary
The archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous Portuguese region, is a part of Macaronesia, a group of volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The region has an extensive network of agricultural and rural roads essential for the local economy and crucial accessibility for most of the rural population. As the distance between the Azores and Portuguese continental land is approximately 1500 km, and within the archipelago, the distance between the most distant islands is over 600 km, the transport is complex, costly and time-consuming. In winter, the sea and weather conditions can disrupt transport. This solution represented a high inefficiency for the equipment because of the time consumed during transport and increased the risk of failure/malfunction due to eventual damage associated with the transport
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