Performance of cement-stabilised crushed brick aggregates in asphalt pavement base and subbase applications

Abstract

Demolished brick is one of the main components of construction waste, and its recycling for use in asphalt pavement base and subbase is a relatively new technique. This work studies the performance of cement-stabilised crushed brick aggregates (CSCBA) and proves the applicability of crushed brick aggregates (CBA) in asphalt pavement base. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier infrared spectrum (FIS) were used to investigate the micro performance of CBA. Six types of CSCBA were designed with the following CBA contents: 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. The properties of CSCBA were investigated, including compaction properties, compressive strength, split strength, compressive resilient modulus, shrinkage performance and fatigue performance. SEM was also used to analyse the strengthening mechanism of CSCBA. This study's results are useful for engineering practice, particularly for identifying (a) the properties of CSCBA and (b) the upper limits of CBA applicability for asphalt pavement base and subbase for low-grade highway.