Application of Foamed Concrete in Road Pavement - Weak Soil System

Abstract

The paper presents results of laboratory tests on foamed concrete and results of numerical simulations of road pavement - weak soil system with a subbase layer of foamed concrete. Physical properties of foamed concrete with varying density (500-1300 kg/m3) were investigated. A series of tests was carried out to examine density, porosity, compressive and flexural strengths. Furthermore, numerical simulations were performed to investigate the possibility of using of foamed concrete as a subbase layer for a pavement structure. The results of numerical simulations show that the maximal tensile stress in the lower zone of subbase layer, for the pavement structure KR5 and subgrade types G1÷G4, is lower than the flexural strength of foamed concrete with the density of 860÷1060 kg/m3 determined in laboratory tests. It shows potential possibility of using foamed concrete layer as a subbase for pavement structures.