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The Recycling Process
START WITH A GOOD FOUNDATION
A good foundation is important for any structure, especially pavements.
The pavement base provides the thickness and stiffness necessary to
carry heavy traffic loadings.
Stabilized pavement bases, such as soil-cement and cement-treated
base have provided economical, long-lasting pavement foundations
for over 60 years. These pavements combine soil and/or aggregate
with cement and water, which are then compacted to high density.
The advantages of stabilization are many:
- Cement stabilization increases the stiffness and strength of
the base material. A stiffer base reduces deflections due to traffic
loads, which results in lower strains in the asphalt surface.
This delays the onset of surface distress, such as fatigue cracking,
and extends pavement life.
- The strong uniform support provided by cement stabilization
results in reduced stresses applied to the subgrade. A thinner
cement-stabilized section can reduce subgrade stresses more than
a thicker layer of untreated aggregate base. Subgrade failures,
potholes, and road roughness are thus reduced.
- Moisture intrusion is the nemesis pavement bases. Cement-stabilized
pavements form a moisture-resistant base that keeps water out
and maintains higher levels of strength, even when saturated.
- A cement-stabilized base also reduces the potential for pumping
of subgrade fines.
A stabilized base spreads loads and reduces stress on the subgrade.
Unstabilized Granular Base vs. Cement-Stabilized
Base
Text and Photos courtesy of Portland Cement Association www.portcement.org
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