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Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123

7th Scientific-Technical Conference Material Problems in Civil Engineering (MATBUD’2015)

The impact of one-, two- and three-component hydraulic road

binder on the properties of the hydraulically bound mixture
Przemysław Buczyński a,*, Maciej Lech b
a
Department of Transportation Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Kielce University of Technology, Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland
b
Department of Building Engineering Technologies and Organization, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Kielce University of Technology, Al. Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland

Abstract

The paper presents the results of tests on road base used in the construction and maintenance of roads stabilised with hydraulic
binders. Seven hydraulic binder mixes were prepared under laboratory conditions by mixing three basic components: Portland
cement CEM I 32.5 R, fluidized bed combustion ash (PF) and cement kiln dust (CKD). The proportions of the binder
components were established in accordance with the experimental design. The percentage share of the hydraulic road binder in
the bound mix was 6%. Two types of natural aggregates were used for the base. The percentage shares of the individual
components in the mix were designed using the Proctor method. For pastes, made from binders, basic mechanical properties
were determined. To assess the effect of binders on the properties of the base stabilised with hydraulically bound mixtures tests
were conducted to measure the following: compressive strength after 7, 14, 28 and 42 days of curing, freeze-thaw resistance.
Experimental results demonstrate that it is possible to determine the optimal composition of hydraulic binders for the required
strength class of the base course.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of organizing committee of the 7th Scientific-Technical Conference Material
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-reviewinunder
Problems Civilresponsibility
Engineering.of organizing committee of the 7th Scientific-Technical Conference Material Problems in Civil Engineering

Keywords: base course; hydraulically bound mixtures; hydraulic road binders; proportions of hydraulic road binders; Proctor method;
experimental design; portland cement; fluidized bed combustion ash; cement kiln dust; soil stabilization

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: p.buczynski@tu.kielce.pl

1877-7058 © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of organizing committee of the 7th Scientific-Technical Conference Material Problems in Civil Engineering
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2015.06.126
 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123 117

1. Introduction

Hydraulically bound mixtures with binders have been widely used in road building. Those provide an
alternative to bases constructed following the deep-cold recycling technology Iwański and Chomicz-Kowalska [1],
and also Iwański et al. [2]. In the first place, road binders are applied to the subgrade to improve its bearing
capacity and alter the bearing capacity class Iwański and Buczyński [3] oraz Yu et al [4] and Ahmed et al. [5] or
Chai and Miura [6]. The application range of road binders can be extended to include sub-bases, road bases, in the
latter those have the form of hydraulically bound aggregate mixes WT-5 [7], and also bases treated with foamed
bitumen and bitumen emulsion Iwański et al. [2], also Iwański and Chomicz-Kowalska [8]. The composition of
those may include recycled aggregate, where the addition of road binders improves the aggregate physical and
mechanical properties. The results of investigations on these issues were presented in studies by Agrela et al. [9],
Perez et al. [10], and Pasetto et al. [11]. The advantageous effect of using hydraulic binder mixes in the road
pavement design is related to a decrease in the thickness of structural courses made from mineral-bitumen mixtures
Judycki et al. [12]. The same effect can also be achieved by increasing the stiffness of mineral-bitumen mixture,
the composition of which includes appropriately modified bitumen Iwański and Mazurek [13], and also Iwański et
al. [14]. The results of those analyses make it necessary to seek for varied road binder options Deja et al. [15] and
Tenn et al. [16] or Toraldo et al. [17] and Iwański et all [18]. The use of different road binders will, to some extent,
contribute to better management of industrial wastes, which has been an issue of concern for many researchers
Gawlicki and Wons [19], Szymkiewicz et al. [20], Wons [21], also Mahamedi et al. [22] or Seguia et al. [23].
Technical guidelines WT-5, published in 2010 [7], standardized the requirements for the materials and course
design parameters, which resulted in a wider range of application of those materials to road pavement structures.

2. Object of investigations

The investigations, aimed at determining the proportions of road binder components, involved hardened binding
pastes and mortars, and also the bound aggregate mix containing 6% of binder. The bound mix was designed to
achieve the highest density of binder-soil skeleton and the optimum moisture content by Proctor method.

2.1. Composition of binders

The source materials used to compose road binders included the following: fluidized bed combustion ash (PF),
cement kiln dust (CKD) and portland cement CEM I 32.5R. The chemical analysis is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Results of the chemical analysis.

LOI SiO2 SiO2 *. CaO ** CaO ** SO3 Na2O *** MgO Cl P2O5 Al2O3 Fe2O3
[%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%] [%]
CEM I 32,5R 3.1 - 20.2 1.0 63.5 3.4 0.16 2.4 0.07 0.33 4.4 2.4
PF 2.4 39.0 15.5 6.8 16.2 5.7 3.0 1.3 0.09 9.5 43.7
CKD 25.2 - 14.9 - 54.4 1.5 0.3 1.6 4.0 - 3.6 1.9
* - reactive, ** - free, *** - equivalent

2.2. Mineral aggregate mix

Fine aggregate that has continuous grading 0/4, quarried from one of pits in the Świętokrzyskie Province, was
used to produce the bound mix. Mineral aggregate was not washed, as a result the fraction below 0.063 mm
constituted 10.4%. The percentage share of individual fractions is presented in Table 2.
118 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123

Table 2. Percentage share of specific fractions in fine aggregate with continuous grading.
< 0.063 0.063 0.125 0.25 0.5 1.0 2.0 4.0 6.3 8.0
Sieve residue [%] 10.4 2.6 3.7 6.3 11.4 20.6 31.3 13.5 0.2 0.0
Fines [%] 10.4 13.0 16.7 22.9 34.3 55.0 86.3 99.8 100

On the basis of particle size distribution obtained for the mix, it was possible to determine its type. In
accordance with technical guidelines WT-5 (2010), the mix was categorised as Type 4.

3. Methods of investigations and the assessment of results

3.1. Experimental design for the assessment of results

Seven different road binders were used to evaluate the impact of hydraulic binders on the properties of a
recycled road base. The composition of binders was based on the assumptions of the simplex-centroid design
described by Atkinson et al. [24]. The design for the experiment presumes that it is possible to assess the effect of
individual components and their interaction. Table 3 presents the experimental design for hydraulic road binder
composition.

Table 3. Simplex-centroid experimental design with a triangular base.

Binder component
Binders
CEM PF CKD
SP1 1.0 0.0 0.0
SP2 0.0 1.0 0.0
SP3 0.0 0.0 1.0
SP4 0.5 0.5 0.0
SP5 0.0 0.5 0.5
SP6 0.5 0.0 0.5
SP7 0.33 0.33 0.33

As assumed in the experimental design, seven road binders were made. Cumulatively, those will allow making a
comprehensive assessment of the effect of binder composition on the properties of hardened mortar and bound
mix.

3.2. Testing methodology for mortars and pastes

To evaluate the quality and usability of road binders, mortars and pastes were prepared. Tests on pastes were
conducted in accordance with the methodology described in the reference standard PN-EN 196-3. The evaluation
of mortars was made following the requirements of the standard PN-EN 196-1. The mortars were made using
standard quartzite sand. To determine the amount of batched water, it was aimed to obtain consistency found for
standard mortars with the water/cement ratio w/c=0.5. The next test step included, after determining earlier the
water/binder ratios, the assessment of compressive and bending strength in accordance with the standard PN-EN
196-1.

3.3. Testing methodology for hydraulically bound mixes

The assessment of the bound mix was performed on the basis of determining the bending strength after 7, 14, 28
and 42 days of curing, using cylindrical samples with the H/D ratio of 1.0 prepared with the Proctor method in
 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123 119

accordance with the standard PN-EN 13286-50, and also on the basis of freeze-thaw resistance assessment. Sample
curing for the compressive strength determination was conducted in accordance with the methodology stated in the
technical guidelines WT-5 [7].

4. Experimental results

4.1. Results of tests on pastes and mortars

On determination of water/binder ratios for pastes, it was possible to begin tests which aimed at determining
setting start and setting end. As regards mortars, their consistencies were specified in accordance with the standard
PN-EN 1015-3. The results of tests on pastes and mortars are presented in Table 4.

Table 4. Results of tests on pastes and mortars.

w/b ratio Slump
Binder w/b ratio Setting start Setting Hardening
Composition for mortar diameter
number for paste [min] end [min] [min]
[cm]
SP1 CEM 0.33 188 280 92 0.50 16.0 x 16.5
SP2 PF 0.60 240 550 310 0.71 17.0 x 16.5
SP3 CKD 0.60 595 985 390 0.74 17.0 x 17.0
SP4 CEM+PF 0.39 245 345 100 0.62 17.0 x 16.5
SP5 PF+CKD 0.50 285 370 85 0.68 16.0 x 16.5
SP6 CEM+CKD 0.40 190 310 120 0.62 16.0 x16.0
SP7 CEM+PF+CKD 0.38 154 264 110 0.60 16.5 x 16.5

On the basis of the analysis of experimental results for pastes obtained from binders, developed in accordance
with the experimental design, it can be stated that binders containing Portland cement show reduced time of setting
start when compared with binders in which this component is not found. The binder denoted as SP3, composed of
100% cement kiln dust has the longest time of setting start, namely 595 minutes. For this binder component, the
longest hardening time of 985 minutes was also noted. SP2 and SP3 binders are characterised by the highest water
demand. Blending all three binder components in equal amounts (1/3) results in reducing water demand to the level
of water/binder ratio that is similar to the characteristics obtained for CEM I 32.5R.
The next step in road binder assessment involved compressive strength test and bending strength test, performed
in accordance with the standard PN-EN 196-1. The results of the tests are presented in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Results of mortar: (a) compressive strength; (b) bending strength.

120 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123

The analysis of the results of the tests on compressive strength and bending strength for the mortar with road
binders of concern indicates that the presence of Portland cement results in the assumed increase in compressive
strength and bending strength Gawlicki and Wons [19]. The lack of Portland cement in the binder produces the
lowest values of strength. That refers to binders, which contained 100% component of cement kiln dust (SP3) or
fluidized bed combustion ash (SP2), or a mixture of both (SP5).

4.2. Results of tests on bound mixes

A simplex-centroid experimental design with a triangular base was employed to assess the results of tests on
compressive strength and freeze-thaw resistance. During the first stage, the significance of the model used to
describe the experimental results was evaluated. The second stage involved the assessment of the significance of
the effect of binder components and their interaction on the strength values. The results of tests on compressive
strength are presented in Fig. 2.

a) b)

c) d)

Fig. 2. Compressive strength of the hydraulically bound mixtures after (a) 7-day curing (b) 14-day curing (c) 28-day curing (d) 42-day curing.

The analysis of the results of the tests on compressive strength of the bound mix shows that irrespective of the
curing time, the highest values of compressive strength were found for the binder that contained 80% to 100% of
Portland cement CEM I 32.5R, 0% to 10% of cement kiln dust CKD, and 0% to 10% of pulverised fuel ash. It
should also be added that for the mix and binder components of concern, the impact of cement kiln dust CKD and
 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123 121

that of fluidized bed combustion ash on compressive strength is enhanced with an increase in the curing time. The
absence of the Portland cement component (corners of the experimental design for cement kiln dust CKD and
fluidized bed combustion ash components) results in practically zero values of compressive strength.

A second-degree polynomial, which was the most adequate one because of the R2 coefficient values higher than
0.9, was used to describe the test results. The assessment of the significance of the parameters of the binder mix
model is presented in Table 5.

Table 5. Values of experimental coefficients describing the model obtained.

Parameters of the mix model
Parameter R2 Assessme CEM PF CKD CEM*PF CEM*CKD PF*CKD
nt
R7 [MPa] 0.957 Coeff 2.766641 0.116641 0.266641 -0.19283 0.867172 0.913838
p-value 0.00000 0.301089 0.027129 0.705507 0.103739 0.087908
R14 [MPa] 0.937 Coeff 4.24957 0.67624 0.86624 1.27525 -3.10475 4.54859
p-value 0.00000 0.001235 0.000135 0.124288 0.001247 0.000035
R28 [MPa] 0.865 Coeff 4.61237 0.97904 1.24904 1.84586 -3.52081 8.46586
p-value 0.00000 0.002525 0.000335 0.158424 0.012636 0.000006
R42 [MPa] 0.889 Coeff 4.89283 1.01949 1.29949 2.4101 -3.93657 8.4101
p-value 0.00000 0.001334 0.000155 0.061422 0.004837 0.000004

The analysis of the effect of binder components on the bound mix compressive strength indicates that
irrespective of the curing time, compressive strength is clearly affected by Portland cement CEM I 32.5R and
cement kiln dust (CKD). The interaction of Portland cement (CEM) and fluidized bed combustion ash (PF),
however, at the assumed significance level of α=0.05, did not affect the variables of concern very much. It should
also be added that with an increase in the sample age, marked effect of the interaction of binder components on
compressive strength was revealed.

The next test stage covered the assessment of the freeze-thaw resistance of the bound mix. The results of the
analysis for the adopted experimental design are shown in Fig. 3. For the freeze-thaw resistance, the first-degree
polynomial was used as it was the most appropriate for the coefficients R2=0.88.

Fig. 3. Freeze-thaw resistance of the hydraulically bound mixtures.

122 Przemysław Buczyński and Maciej Lech / Procedia Engineering 108 (2015) 116 – 123

The test results show that the highest freeze-thaw resistance of the bound mix was obtained when the mix
contained 100% of cement. The freeze-thaw resistance value is greater than 0.8 while that stated in the guidelines
WT-5 [7] is W-Mmin=0.7. Advantageous values of resistance were found for mixes additionally containing cement
kiln dust (CKD) and fluidized bed combustion ash in the amount of up to 20% of the binder content, which value
was the sum of both components.

The assessment of the effect of binder components on freeze-thaw resistance of the bound mix was based on the
assessment of the parameters of the model compliant with the experimental design. The results of the analysis are
presented in Table 6.

Table 6. Values of experimental coefficients describing the model obtained.

Parameters of the mix model
2
Parameter R Assessme CEM PF CKD CEM*PF CEM*CKD PF*CKD
nt
W-M [-] 0.8669 Coeff 0.900126 0.02346 0.02346 -0.32919 -0.14253 -0.46919
p-value 0.000000 0.746346 0.746346 0.330458 0.669423 0.172212

The results of the analysis indicate that cement is the only binder component which significantly affects freeze-
thaw resistance of the bound mix. The other components and their interaction do not produce a change in this
parameter.

5. Conclusions

On the basis of experimental results and analyses performed for the adopted experimental design, the following
conclusions can be drawn:
x the shortest time of the setting start was found for the binder denoted, in accordance with the experimental
design, as SP7, which contained all the components, each in the amount of 1/3. The setting start time for this
binder was shorter than that for the paste of Portland cement CEM I 32.5R,
x the presence of Portland cement CEM I 32.5R in binders resulted in an increase in compressive strength, as
expected. The highest strength was demonstrated by SP1 binder, which contained 100% Portland cement. The
second strongest binder was SP4, in which the interaction of cement and fluidized bed combustion ash was
revealed,
x an increase in set binder curing time made it possible to reveal the cement interaction with other binder
components. In the experimental design, for cement, strength increment was observed when compared with
strength after 7- and 14-day curing,
x the analysis of the significance of model parameters showed that the interaction of cement and fluidized bed
combustion ash was the only factor which did not produce a marked effect on a change in the bound mix
compressive strength,
x the model analysis indicated that an advantageous value of freeze-thaw resistance was shown by the mixes,
which additionally contained cement kiln dust CKD and pulverised fuel ash, the sum of both components
making 20% of the binder content,
x the analysis of freeze-thaw resistance of bound mixes showed that Portland cement was the only component that
produced a marked effect on a change in the feature of concern.

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