Evaluation of Chemically Stabilized Quarry Byproduct Applications in Base and Subbase Layers through Accelerated Pavement Testing

Abstract

Research conducted at the Illinois Center for Transportation evaluated sustainable applications of quarry byproducts (QB) or QB blended with coarse recycled aggregates in chemically stabilized base and subbase layers in flexible pavements. In total, eight full-scale test sections, including one conventional flexible pavement with no QB as the control section, were constructed over a subgrade with an engineered strength of 6% California bearing ratio. The test sections were stabilized with either 3% Type I Portland cement or 10% Class C fly ash by dry weight. Fractionated reclaimed asphalt pavements and fractionated recycled concrete aggregates were also used as the recycled coarse aggregates. Based on laboratory tests conducted to determine strength properties of the chemically stabilized samples, QB and recycled aggregates were blended in a ratio of 70% to30% by weight, respectively. A lightweight deflectometer was used to evaluate the quality of the construction and the curing of the test sections. The constructed test sections were then evaluated for performance through accelerated pavement testing (APT) and frequent measurement of surface deformations. The results of APT showed quite a satisfactory rutting performance of all the evaluated QB applications with no observed surface cracking after 135,000 cycles. Four of the test sections were also instrumented with soil pressure cells to measure the wheel load deviator stress on top of the subgrade. The pressure measurements indicated subgrade pressures 3−5 times lower for the stabilized QB sections compared with that of the conventional flexible pavement control section.