VALORIZATION OF DREDGED SEDIMENTS FROM DAMS IN PAVEMENT DESIGN

Abstract

Introduction: This study is part of research aimed at valorizing dredged sediments through the development of formulations for use in road engineering. The purpose of the study was to determine if the materials selected for pavement layers comply with road design standards, in particular, with specific requirements for density, grain size, plastic properties, organic matter, and mechanical performance. Methods: To determine the physical-chemical and mechanical characteristics of the dredged sediments obtained from samples taken from the Bakhadda dam located in western Algeria’s semi-arid climate, the sediments were treated with binders in small amounts (3% lime (L), 6% cement (C)) for reuse in road construction. The study focused on the evolution of physical and mechanical characteristics of the treated sediments, including LL, PI, VBS, immediate bearing index (IBI%), UCS, tensile strength Ϭt, as well as small strain modulus ESS and large strain modulus E50. The results showed that adding lime and cement to the dredged sediments improved their strength, as evidenced by the increased compressive strength (UCS) over time for the samples containing different amounts of binders (3%L, 6%C, and 3%L + 6%C). Additionally, the effect of the water content on the mechanical properties of the formulations was demonstrated. The study showed that the strength increased when the water content decreased.