Investigation of Binder Course Cold Asphalt Emulsion Mixture Properties Containing Cement and GGBS

Abstract

Cold bitumen Emulsion Mixture (CBEM) is a mixing of aggregate with emulsion of asphalt that is blended at room temperature. It has many environmental and economic advantages. But, the lower performance and high water sensitivity of CBEMs at early stages needs more investigation. This is the principal purpose of this research, which aims to use CBEMs as a structural binder layer after improving the mechanical properties by adding Ground-Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS). In this research the mineral filler is only materials passing (sieve No.200) replaced with (GGBS) by percentages (2, 4, 6, and 8) by total weight of aggregate with 2% of ordinary Portland cement(OPC) to enhance the mechanical properties of CBEMs and then the optimum content of GGBS was chosen based on Indirect Tensile Strength test (ITS) results. The optimum content of (GGBS) was 6% which improved significantly ITS value to more than (149%) in comparison with the control mixtures in which the mineral filler is only materials passing sieve No.200.(at age 28days). As for the other laboratory tests that represented of Marshall Stability (M.S) test and index of retained strength (IRS) test, the experimental results were very encouraging, the value of M.S of mixtures with optimum content of GGBS increased about 220% and IRS was increased about 335% in comparison with the control mixtures. Accordingly, this search has exhibited much enhanced CBEMs with GGBS in addition to the economic and ecological advantages.