Use of recycled aggregates made from construction and demolition waste in sustainable road base layers

Abstract

Research has been carried out on recycled aggregates from the exclusive crushing of structural concrete waste (CDWRCon) and mixed ceramic materials (CDWRCer) in selective demolitions. This study analyses the use of these recycled aggregates as wet mix macadam (GARCon, GARCer) and in cement soil (CSRCon, CSRCer). The materials comply with the requirements of a road base; although, due to the low values of resistance to fragmentation, these materials are adequate for use in sensitive road systems and other places, such as urban roads and car parks, that have a low intensity of heavy traffic. As soluble salt contents were detected, additional waterproofing or drainage measures must be adopted to prevent water infiltration into the layers made up of CDWRCon or CDWRCer. Finally, the high initial values of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) allow the temporary passage of light vehicles over CSRCon or CSRCer after three days.