Effects of Compaction Energy and Material Reuse on Density, Particle Breakage, and California Bearing Ratio of Gravel Materials for Pavement Layers
Keywords:
Reused gravel, Compaction energy, California Bearing Ratio, Particle breakage, Granular pavement materials, Sustainable pavement constructionAbstract
The reuse of previously compacted gravel materials in pavement construction is increasingly practiced due to economic and environmental benefits, but repeated compaction may alter their engineering performance. This study investigates the influence of compaction energy and material reuse on the mechanical behavior of gravel used in pavement layers. Laboratory tests were conducted in accordance with BS 1377 [19] using four rammer masses (2.5, 4.5, 6.5, and 8.5 kg) and five blow counts per layer (27, 43, 62, 82, and 100), generating a wide range of compaction energies. The engineering properties evaluated included Maximum Dry Density (MDD), Optimum Moisture Content (OMC), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), plasticity index, and particle size distribution for both natural and reused gravel. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and regression modeling, were applied to evaluate relationships between compaction energy and material performance. Results show that MDD and CBR increase with compaction energy up to an optimum range of approximately 3,000–4,500 kJ/m³, beyond which excessive energy leads to particle breakage, increased fines content, and reduced strength. Reused gravel consistently exhibited lower CBR values than natural gravel at comparable compaction energies. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing compaction energy when reused gravel materials are applied in pavement construction and provide insight for sustainable pavement engineering practices.
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