Assessment for sustainable use of quarry fines as pavement construction materials: Part II-stabilization and characterization of quarry fine materials

Abstract

A secondary by-product, quarry fines, has previously been investigated for applications in high volume as pavement construction materials. Results from a series of laboratory tests suggest qualified basic properties except for the possibility of frost susceptibility for the virgin quarry fines. In Part II of the research, stabilized quarry fine specimens were prepared and investigated in view of the mechanical behavior, and the durability represented by susceptibility to freezing and thawing cycles. The unconfined compressive strength, which is also the commonly used strength indicator, was adopted to evaluate the validity of the stabilized quarry fines as pavement construction materials. The laboratory-determined parameters were then compared among specimens treated with different stabilizers and with the typical requirements for pavement base/subbase layers. The stabilized quarry fines can be qualified for applications in pavement base, subbase and filter layer depending on the types of stabilizers used and degrees of compaction achieved.