Mechanical properties of roads unbound treated with synthetic fluid based on isoalkane and tall oil

Abstract

The unbound layers are an essential component of both highly trafficked and low-volume roads as their mechanical properties are of major importance when it comes to ensuring a well-performing pavement. However, as the aggregates employed as road construction materials naturally display a wide variation in the mechanical properties according to their geological origins, the pavement engineer may be interested in utilizing stabilization technologies to deliberately modify and adjust the behaviour of the road courses. This study sheds light on an innovative synthetic fluid technology composed of isoalkane and tall oil pitch. Repeated load triaxial tests investigate the resilient modulus and the deformation behaviour of samples treated with the synthetic system according to different percentages. Furthermore, cyclic triaxial tests are also performed after exposing stabilized specimens to a series of freeze–thaw cycles. The principle of the rolling bottle test is adopted to assess the integrity with stripping loss on loose aggregates coated by the product. The laboratory results show that evident variations in the mechanical properties can be attained once the aggregates are mixed with the synthetic agent and that a strong coating resistant to water and external actions is formed.