Brick dust and fly ash as subgrade stabilizer for Low Traffic Volume Roads: laboratory and test track evaluation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7764/RIC.00110.21

Keywords:

soil Stabilization, brick dust, geopolymers, low traffic volume roads, performance

Abstract

Currently, there are materials from industry that, under certain physical conditions, can contribute to the improvement of soils mechanical properties. Materials such as brick dust (BD) and fly ash (FA) have high SiO2 and Al2O3 contents, which denote pozzolanic activity. In addition, it has been shown that these materials can be activated when combined with lime. This generates internal cementation processes when the particle size is 0.075 mm. Rural roads in Colombia have one of the highest percentages of the entire road infrastructure, and only about 7% are in good condition. Difficult access conditions, soil susceptibility, the financial impossibility of intervening in this entire network and the need to implement circular economy processes, make these materials attractive in terms of stabilization to improve traffic conditions. BD and FA were applied in dosages of 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 24% in finogranular soils (silt and clay) and sandy soils, compaction was evaluated, and a factorial experimental design was carried out to evaluate the influence of the material on the variable unconfined compressive strength (UCS), through an ANOVA analysis. To evaluate the performance of BD and FA, a test track was made on a low traffic volume road in northern Colombia, which had a sandy soil. BD and FA were added at 12% and activated with lime, in 30 m long cells. To establish a comparative pattern, other cells were made in the same geometric conditions with materials that are usually used in this type of application, such as cement. These cells were evaluated over a period of 16 months. Characteristics such as resilient modulus, international roughness index (IRI) and slip resistance coefficient were measured during this period. The results indicate that when these materials are added to finogranular soils (silts and clays), the UCS increases by 150% with respect to the unstabilized soil, while for sandy soils the strength increases from 70% to 125%. During the evaluation period, the BD and the FA were able to increases of over 50% in the resilient modulus with respect to the unstabilized soil. However, the FA showed comparable results with respect to the cement-stabilized cell. In addition, although the sections deteriorated over time, they maintained their roughness index within the admissible ranges indicative of a good serviceability index.

 

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Author Biographies

GLORIA ISABEL CARVAJAL PELAÉZ, Carvajal,G.I

Civil engineering; PhD in Construction Engineering and Environmental Management; Master's Degree in Consulting for Civil Engineering and Specialist in Construction Engineering and Environmental Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain).

Associate Professor at the University of Medellín, Director of the Master's Degree in Civil Engineering and member of the PhD Committee in Engineering of the same Institution. He has been a member of the Colombian Council for Sustainable Construction (CCCS) since 2010.

She has been involved in construction projects and has worked to reduce resource consumption and solid waste management by applying circular economy principles in roads and construction projects.

CESAR HIDALGO, HIDALGO, C.A

Civil Engineer

Dotor in Geotechnics

Professor, University of Medellin

Civil Engineering Program Coordinator

FREDY MUÑOZ, MUÑOZ, F.

Civil Engineer

Master's Degree in Civil Engineering

Professor, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

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Published

2024-08-28

How to Cite

CARVAJAL PELAÉZ, G. I., RODRIGUEZ , M. A. ., HIDALGO, C., & MUÑOZ, F. (2024). Brick dust and fly ash as subgrade stabilizer for Low Traffic Volume Roads: laboratory and test track evaluation. Revista Ingeniería De Construcción, 39(2), 112–126. https://doi.org/10.7764/RIC.00110.21

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Section

Original Research