Improvement of dune sand asphalt mixes for pavement bases

Abstract EN

Depletion of mineral aggregates is a matter of great concern in most areas of the world.

New sources of aggregates need to be investigated.

In desert areas, suitable materials for construction of roads are scarce and necessitate either improving available dune sand or importing good quality mineral aggregates.

Many industrial by-products are considered wastes costing handling and disposing expenses, in addition to the environmental hazards.

This research work looks for beneficial utilization of such wastes for improving dune sand to be used in asphaltic base course.

Iron oxide, and kiln dust are considered within this category.

A natural material, volcanic tuff dust was mixed with dune sand asphalt and marked improvement was gained.

Portland cement and gypsum were introduced into various percentages with other additives to reach the minimum Asphalt Institute design requirements.

The results are very much encouraging with volcanic tuff dust which sQows remarkable improvement.

However, kiln dust also satisfied the minimum stability requirements for low volume roads.