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A STUDY ON CEMENT TREATED BASE USING CRUSHED BRICK AS

AGGREGATE

Conference Paper · May 2018

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 Seminar on Ground Improvement Techniques
30April 2018, IE(I), Tripura State Centre, India

A STUDY ON CEMENT TREATED BASE USING CRUSHED BRIKCS AS

AGGREGATE
Partha Pratim Sarkar
Jince P Zachariah
Pritam Debnath
Mohini Saha
Abhijit Das
Prabhat Kumar
Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Agartala
E-mail : ps_partha@yahoo.com, jincepzachariah@gmail.com, pritam.oam@gmail.com, msaha1012@gmail.com; abhijit.22agt@gmail.com;
prabhatraj333@gmail.com,

ABSTRACT: Road networks are most important infrastructure of our country. It is always preferable to make long lasting road.
There is one way to make road durable, it is by improving the pavement strength. Improving the quality and strength of sub base
and base layer will provide a strong and durable pavement. Generally, in base layers, brick or stone aggregates are used. But, at
that condition, aggregates get displaced with heavy load moving over the pavement and also it permits penetration of water
through this layer, which may cause failure of pavement.

Cement-Treated Base is a mixture of aggregate material, granular soils combined with prescribed amounts of cement and water
that hardens after compaction and curing to form a durable paving material

Cement-Treated Base (CTB) is a strong, frost-resistant base for a concrete or asphalt pavement wearing surface. CTB is made up
of native soils, gravels/manufactured aggregates blended with engineered quantities of cement and water. Pavements with CTB
are much stronger and more rigid than a non-stabilized granular base. Cement-Treated Base is engineered so the thickness of the
base is less that required for granular bases carrying the same weight and traffic. Properly engineered CTB can distribute loads
over a wider area reducing the stresses on the sub-grade and acting as the load-carrying element of a flexible pavement or a sub
base for concrete. The rigidity of Cement-Treated Base reduces deflection, rutting in the base and other asphalt strains

This work is mainly examining the feasibility of cement stabilized bricks, when it is used as a base layer. Cement stabilization
will make this base layer more impermeable and also it will improve the strength. Cement will act as a binding agent and thus
providing the intermolecular bondage and its slab like characteristics will provide some extent rigidity to the pavement. To
perform the analysis, OPC grade 43 with cement aggregate ratio 1:14 and standard mould of size 150×150×150 mm has been
used. For various mixing ratio and gradation, IRC: SP: 49(2014) guideline has been followed.

Keywords: CTB, Crushed Bricks, Cement , E Value, Strengths

1. Introduction: by re-using what would be normally regarded as a waste

This applied research project has been undertaken to assess
the suitability of crushed bricks when used as base
aggregates for pavements. Crushed brick materials are
commonly obtained from construction and demolition
(C&D) activities. Construction wastes are produced during
different phases of construction. Demolition waste materials
arise from demolition activities. There is now a developing
emphasis on environmental management which has resulted
in growing pressure to investigate the viability of reuse of
all categories of waste material such as C&D materials. The
use of recycled C&D material would greatly reduce the
demand for landfill sites and for virgin resource materials
1
material.
While the concept of stabilizing soils and aggregates for
pavement purposes has been around for more than a
century, engineered CTB was first used in 1935 to improve
the roadbed for State Highway 41 near Johnsonville, South
Carolina. Today, thousands of miles of CTB pavements in
every state in the United States and in all the Canadian
provinces are providing good service at low maintenance
costs.
CTB (using stone as aggregates) is widely used as a
pavement base for highways, roads, streets, parking areas,
airports, industrial facilities, and materials handling and
storage areas. The structural properties of CTB depend on age. This is especially important when considering that many
the soil/aggregate material, quantity of cement, curing pavements experience greater traffic loads and volume
conditions, and age. Typical properties of CTB material are throughout their service life. This reserve strength accounts in
shown in Table 1.1. This project proposes to investigate the part for CTB's fine performance.
use of crushed brick as a supplementary material with
concrete aggregates in cement treated bound pavement The fundamental control factors for quality Cement-Treated
applications. The development of a procedure for the Base are:
evaluation of these reclaimed products as a base/sub-base
material would result in an increased level of confidence  Proper cement content
within industry as to their likely in-service performance and  Adequate moisture content
appropriate application as well as result in a higher uptake  Thorough mixing
of recycled materials in urban areas where cement treated  Adequate compaction
sub-base pavements are commonly used.
 Proper Curing

2. Experimental Research and Results

Table-1.1: Performance of CTB using stone as aggregate
Various fundamental properties of brick aggregates is
Property 7-Day values determined required for CTB. Different tests , which are
done, is as follows.
Compressive strength 2.1 – 5.5 MPa 2.1 – 5.5
I. MPa
Specific Gravity Test
II. Water Absorption Test
Modulus of rupture 0.7 – 1.4 MPa
III. Particle Size Distribution
0.7 – 1.4 MPa
Modulus of elasticity 4,100 - 6,900 MPa
2.1 Specific Gravity Test

4,100 - 6,900
This MPa
test has been conducted as per IS:2386 (PART-3)-
1963.A sample of not less than 2000 g of the aggregate shall
The advantages of CTB are many when stone is used as
be tested. Aggregates which have been artificially heated
aggregate.
0.15shall not normally be used.
• CTB provides a stiffer and stronger base than an unbound
Weight of saturated aggregate suspended in water with basket
granular base. A stiffer base reduces deflections due to traffic
= W1 g = 1730 g
loads, which results in lower strains in the asphalt surface.
This delays the onset of surface distress, such as fatigue Weight of basket suspended in water = W2 g=677 g
cracking, and extends pavement life
• CTB thicknesses are less than those required for granular Weight of saturated aggregate in water = (W1-W2)g = 1053
bases carrying the same traffic because the loads are g
distributed over a large area. The strong uniform support
provided by CTB results in reduced stresses applied to the Weight of saturated surface dry aggregate in air = W3 g
subgrade. A thinner cement stabilized section can reduce =2013 g
subgrade stresses more than a thicker layer of untreated
Weight of the oven dried aggregate W4 g= 1810 g
aggregate base. Subgrade failures, potholes, and road
roughness are thus reduced. CTB’s slab-like characteristics
and beam strength are unmatched by granular bases that can Specific Gravity = = 1.885
fail when interlock is lost.
Apparent Specific Gravity = = 2.390
• A wide variety of in-situ soils and manufactured aggregates
can be used for CTB. This eliminates the need to haul in
2.2 Water Absorption Test
expensive select granular aggregates.
This test has been conducted as per IS:2386 (PART-3)-
• Rutting is reduced in a CTB pavement. Loads from 1963.A sample of not less than 2000 g of the aggregate shall
channelized traffic will displace unbound granular material be tested. Aggregates which have been artificially heated
beneath flexible surface pavements . shall not normally be used.
• Moisture intrusion can destroy unstabilized pavement bases, Weight of saturated aggregate suspended in water with basket
but not when cement is used to bind the base. CTB pavements
= W1 g = 1730 g
form a moisture-resistant base that keeps water out and
maintains higher levels of strength, even when saturated, thus Weight of basket suspended in water = W2 g=677 g
reducing the potential for pumping of subgrade soils.
Weight of saturated aggregate in water = (W1-W2)g = 1053
• CTB provides a durable, long-lasting base in all types of g
climates. As an engineered material it is designed to resist
damage caused by cycles of wetting and drying and freezing Weight of saturated surface dry aggregate in air = W3 g
and thawing. =2013 g
• Similar to concrete, CTB continues to gain strength with
2
Weight of the oven dried aggregate W4 g= 1810 g
2
1.95
Water Absorption =

Dry Density (gm/cc)

1.9
2.3 Particle Size Distribution 1.85
1.8
Particle Size Distribution has been conducted as per 1.75
gradation provided by IRC:SP:49 – 2014. Results of this test
1.7
has been shown in Table 2.1 & in Figure 2.1, 2.2.
1.65
1.6
30
0 5 10
25
Petcent finer

20 Moisture Content (%)

15
10
Fig. 2.2 Moisture content vs. Dry density
5
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle size (mm)

Fig. 2.1 Particle Size Distribution curve

2.4 Determination of Optimum Moisture Content
(OMC):

Trial mixes of dry lean concrete shall be prepared with

moisture contents of 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 ,7.0,7.5 and 8 percent
using cement content requirement of aggregate-cement ratio
specified in IRC: SP: 49 (2014). As OPC is used, hence as per
code requirements, aggregate-cement ratio is taken as14:1.
Optimum moisture and dry density shall be established by
preparing cubes with varying moisture contents. Compaction
of the mix shall be done in three layers with vibratory Fig. 2.3 Moisture content vs. Dry density
hammer (fig:2.3) fitted with a square or rectangular foot. For
compaction standard cube of size 150×150×150 mm is used.

The table 4.2 shows the experimental values of dry density Table 2.1: Particle size distribution
and moisture content.
Part- Retained Perc- Cumu- Percent
Maximum dry density and optimum moisture content is
icle weight(gm) entage lative
obtained from dry density vs moisture content relationship as finer
size retained retained
shown in fig 2.2.
(mm) (%) (%) (%)
Maximum dry density obtained = 1.98g/cc
19 0 0 0 0
Optimum Moisture Content = 6.9%
9.5 737 73.7 73.7 26.3

4.75 185 18.5 92.2 7.8

2.36 16 1.6 93.8 6.2

0.6 8 0.8 94.0 5.4

0.3 24 2.4 97.0 3.0

0.15 10 1.0 98.0 2.0

0.075 9 0.9 98.9 1.1

Pan 10 1.0 99.9 0.1

3
Table 2.2: Water content and dry density values are
shown.

Water Weight of Wet Dry

Content compacted Density Density
(%) sample(gm) (gm/cc) (gm/cc)

5 5872.500 1.740 1.657

Fig. 2.4 Crushed bricks for compression test
5.5 6540.750 1.938 1.836
Compressive strength results at 3 days and 7 days for three
samples has been shown in table 2.3
6 6982.875 2.069 1.952
Table 2.3: Results of compressive strength tests
6.5 7080.75 2.098 1.969 Sample Compr- Average Compr- Average
No. essive Strength essive Strength
7 7138.125 2.115 1.978 strength at strength at
at 3 3days at 7 7days
days (MPa) days (MPa)
7.5 6955.875 2.061 1.917 (MPa) (MPa)
Sample1 1.1 3.6
8 6945.75 2.058 1.905 Sample2 0.98 1.08 3.8 3.7

Sample 3 1.15 3.65

Different tests has been conducted for determination of
strength of cement treated base and E(elastic modulus) value.
The following are some of the important tests that has been
performed in this regard. 2.6 Flexural strength Testing of standard beam

 Compressive strength Testing of standard cube Flexural test evaluates the tensile strength of concrete
 Flexural strength Testing of standard beam indirectly. It tests the ability of unreinforced concrete beam or
 Modulus of elasticity(E) determination slab to withstand failure in bending. The results of flexural
test on concrete expressed as a modulus of rupture which
2.5 Compressive strength Testing of standard cube
denotes as (MR) in MPa or psi. Beam size of 100 mm width,
Compressive strength of concrete cube test provides an idea 100 mm depth, and span of 500 mm has been used for this
about all the characteristics of concrete. By this single test particular test. Cement concrete ratio of 1:14 has been used
one judge that whether Concreting has been done properly or for mix. To conduct the test IS:516-1959 has been followed.
not. Compressive strength of concrete depends on many
The results obtained for 7 days test has been shown in table
factors such as water-cement ratio, cement strength, quality of
2.4
concrete material, quality control during production of
concrete etc. Table 2.4: Results of flexural strength tests
For this particular project the mix ratio of 1:14 (cement :
Sample Flexural Average Deflection Average
aggregate) and specimen size of 15cm X 15cm X 15cm has
No. strength Strength (mm) Deflection
been used. To conduct the test IS:516-1959 has been
at 7 at (mm)
followed. days 7days
(MPa) (MPa)

Sample1 0.50 4.8

Sample2 0.40 0.42 4.2 4.27

Sample 3 0.36 3.8

2.7 Elastic Modulus(E Value) of cylinder

E value or elastic modulus is the ability of a material to resist

against any deformation. Thus E value has a great
4
significance in this particular project, which will enable to
understand about the property of the material used and how
much suitable it is, if it is used as base material.
A cylinder of size 30cm x 15 cm has been used for the test.
Compressometer has been used to know the deflection. The
compressive strength of the cylinder is determined by giving
a load at a uniform rate . The load at which cylinder will fail,
this load is ultimate laod. Diving this load by the surface area
of cylinder will give compressive strength. And at this
ultimate load, max deflection is noted down. Thus strain
(ratio of actual length and deformation) can be found out.
Elastic modulus is the ratio of stress and strain. Thus diving
stress value of strain , E value can be found out.
Two samples has been tested for 7 days and Results of the E
value test has been shown in table 2.5
the cement. It may be possible to get more strength if more
rich mix such as 1:12, is used and smaller bricks sizes are
used. There may be a scope to use fly ash to used with
cement, which will significantly increase the impermeability
of the mix. For all this issues, a further study can be
conducted in future.
The following conclusion can be made from the
performed project.
i. Though the selected mix 1:14 , has performed well,
but to gain more suitable results more rich mix can
be used. Hence a future study is required for this
purpose.
ii. Bricks quality and its gradation should be
maintained properly to get good results.
iii. To increase the impermeability, a future study can be
carried out using fly ash along with cement.

Table 2.5: Results of E value test

References
Sample Max Max E value Average
No. Stress strain (stress/strain) E value
Arulrajah A, Miri M, Hamed D (2013), “Crushed Brick as a
at 7 at 7 (MPa) at
Supplementary Material in Cement Treated Crushed Concrete
days days 7days
Pavement Applications”, Informal Report: Swinburne
(MPa) (MPa)
University of Technology, Australia , pp. 6-33
Sample1 3.68 0.001 3680.00 3694.83
Ismail A, Baghini M. S, Bin Karim M. R, Shokri F, Ramez A,
Sample2 3.45 0.00093 3709.67 Firoozi A. A and Firoozi A. A (2014), “Laboratory
investigation on the strength characteristics of CementTreated
Base”, Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 507 (2014) pp
353-360

Lijun S, Xinwu W (2012), “Analysis of Load Stress for

Asphalt Pavement of Lean Concrete Base”, 2012
International Conference on Applied Physics and Industrial
Engineering, pp. 405-410.

Kumar B (2012), “Properties of pavement quality concrete

and dry lean concrete with copper slag as fine aggregate”,
International Journal of Pavement Engineering, Vol. 14, No.
8, 746–751, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2012.729059

O. S. Aderinola (2014), “Development of Mechanistic-

Empirical Pavement Design for Tropical Climate Using
Cement-Treated Base Layer “ , American Journal of
Engineering Research, e-ISSN : 2320-0847 p-ISSN : 2320-
0936 Volume-03, Issue-04, pp-236-244.
Fig. 2.5 Sample prepared for testing
Kevin J. Gaspard, P.E.(2000), “Evaluation of Cement
3. Summary and Conclusion Treated Base Courses”, Louisiana Transportation Research
Center Louisiana Department of Transportation and
In order to use crushed bricks as base material stabilized by Development 4101 Gourrier Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70808.+
cement, it need to satisfy various strength criteria. In this
project an attempt has been made to understand the strength W. Spencer Guthrie & Maile A. Rogers (2010), “ variability
characteristics & deflections of 1:14 ratio (cement : in construction of cement-treated base layers: material
aggregate) mix of crushed bricks. properties and contractor performance” , Brigham Young
University 12 Provo, UT 84602, Transportation Research
Board 38 89th Annual Meeting 39 January 10-14, 2010 40
In the earlier studies, mostly stone has been used as
Washington, D.C.
coarse aggregate. But in this study, stone has been replaced
by crushed bricks. And an effort has been done to understand
the strength behavior of 1:14 mix. A comparison of obtained
results with earlier study (Table 1.1) show that bricks also
perform well in the test. Bricks quality and its gradation is an
important factor to increase the binding strength along with
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