Cement Treatment of Frost-Susceptible New England Base Materials Blended with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

摘要

Full-depth recycling in conjunction with cement stabilization is an increasingly popular method of reconstructing deteriorated asphalt pavements; in cold regions, cement treatment is especially useful for improving the strength and durability of frost-susceptible materials. The purpose of this research was to characterize the properties of cement-treated base materials constructed from reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and aggregate materials obtained from several locations in New England. The aggregates and RAP were blended in approximately equal proportions by weight, and extensive laboratory testing was performed to evaluate the strength and durability of each blend in the untreated condition and after treatment with various levels of cement. Testing included determinations of particlesize distributions, moisture-density relationships, unconfined compressive strengths, and moisture susceptibility classifications for the materials. The results of the laboratory testing were used to establish design parameters for field test sections constructed in the summer of 2005. Field testing, including stiffness evaluations using a falling-weight deflectometer, was conducted to characterize the structural properties of both cement-treated and untreated sections subjected to early trafficking. This research suggests that modest amounts of cement can greatly improve the strength and durability of base materials, which should in turn increase their resistance to frost damage.