Full depth reclamation with cement of gravel base with lateritic fines

Abstract

A large part of the Brazilian road network was built with lateritic gravel bases in the last 40 years. It is a natural soil highly resistant to compression efforts when mechanically stabilized. However, the presence of water reduces its strength due to the fine fraction. The action of water associated with traffic loading triggers an accelerated an accelerated process of degradation. Thus, pavement recovery by full depth reclamation with cement (RDR-PC) needs to be considered, since this solution integrates technical, economic, and environmental requirements in a new recycled base. In this sense, the present study proposes the use of deep recycling with the addition of cement to inhibit the adverse effects of the presence of water and simultaneously stabilize the base of the degraded pavement. A laboratory investigation was developed to evaluate the accuracy of this solution, using samples of lateritic gravel and milled material extracted from BR 153/GO pavement. The characterization of the materials, sensitivity analysis of the fine fraction, and the evaluation of the mechanical properties of the stabilized mixture with gravel, RAP (or asphalt millings), and cement were performed. The results obtained were in the range of values published by Brazilian and foreign researchers. Jointly, they concluded the feasibility of recycling with the addition of cement for the recovery of lateritic gravel bases.