ASSESSMENT OF LABORATORY COMPACTION METHODS FOR GRANULAR BASE LAYER STABILIZED WITH SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

Abstract

Due to the recent improvement and large capabilities with greater compaction which is introduced by modern construction equipment as well as the higher densities on the roads produced by heavy traffic that the proctor test couldn’t reach, it becomes interesting to present the possibility of using the superpave gyratory compactor in laboratory granular base compaction. An extensive experimental work is accomplished to achieve the goals of the study by preparing (108) samples using virgin local granular base materials brought from Al-Nibaee quarry near AL-Taji in Baghdad-Iraq and mixed with foundry sand (FS) and reclaimed concrete aggregate (RCA). The percentages (25, 50, 75 and 100) % of FS and RCA were used for base treatment. All samples were prepared using two compaction methods (modified proctor compaction method and gyratory compaction method). Optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD) were determined. Also, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was applied in this study. Samples treated with 75% FS and 100% RCA exhibited the highest values of unconfined compressive strength UCS for the two compaction methods. The results showed as well as the feasibility of using gyratory compactor in granular base compaction, the use of 75% FS and 100% RCA and applied the gyratory compaction method results in highest unconfined compressive strength values reach nearly 253.4 kPa and 716.5 kPa respectively that provided increment about (230.8) % and (835.4) %.