Evaluation of Reclaimed Hydrated Fly Ash as an Aggregate for Sustainable Roadway Base Material

Abstract

This paper summarizes the findings from laboratory and field performance testing of reclaimed hydrated class C fly ash (HFA) stabilized with a triangular aperture geogrid. This phase of testing was performed on HFA laboratory specimens and field test sections. The laboratory test results provided estimates for design input values, while the field testing assessed performance characteristics including the as-constructed modulus of the subgrade reaction, the in situ resilient modulus, and permanent deformation. For the laboratory portion, all results were derived from tests conducted on specimens immediately after sample preparation and after a 7-day cure. The compressive strength of reclaimed hydrated class C fly ash increases with curing. The strength of the HFA material can be further increased when mixed with a chemical stabilizer. For this project, chemical stabilization with lime was not viable because the lime supplier was too far from both HFA source and project site. Based on cyclic plate load tests, the in situ resilient modulus of the HFA and geogrid-stabilized HFA layers were determined on site. This paper reports the findings from the laboratory and field plate load test and highlights the potential use of geogrids in the stabilization of HFA.