Macroscopic properties and microscopic characterisation of an optimally designed anti-cracking stone base course filled with cement stabilised macadam

Abstract

Stone base course filled with cement stabilised macadam (SFC) is a promising solution for addressing reflection cracks in semi-rigid base asphalt pavement due to its satisfactory crack resistance. However, its limited strength and construction challenges have impeded its widespread application. To overcome these challenges, an optimised mix proportion design method of SFC was proposed. Natural crushed limestones with specific particle sizes were selected to serve as skeletal coarse aggregates; fine aggregates and their proportions were step-by-step determined using aggregate and unconfined compressive strength tests. The multi-scale analysis integrating the performance tests and the microscopic detections was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed SFC, and compared with common cement stabilised macadam (CSM). The results indicate that the material exhibits satisfactory mechanical strength through a tightly interlocked skeleton structure and excellent crack resistance by dissipating strain energy and retarding cracking of SFC through the weak interface transition zone (ITZ).