Work

Feasibility of using stabilized grouting wastes as a road foundation material

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cement-stabilized sand is widely used in road base construction, but its application is increasingly constrained by the shortage of natural sand. This study investigates the feasibility of reusing grouting waste (GW) as an alternative material in cement-stabilized road base mixtures. Eight GW samples collected from seven sites in Belgium were characterized in terms of particle density, sand equivalent, methylene blue value, plasticity index, compaction behavior, mineralogical composition, and their 28-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was evaluated with cement contents of 4-12%. The results showed that GW differed markedly from natural sand, exhibiting lower particle density and sand equivalent, but higher methylene blue value and plasticity index. The optimum moisture content increased with cement dosage for all cement-stabilized GWs, while the maximum dry density showed a slight increase. At 8% cement, most GW mixtures showed porosity comparable to or lower than that of the cement-stabilized sand mixture. XRD analysis indicated that GW mainly consisted of quartz and calcite, with minor portlandite, ettringite, and a small amount of unhydrated clinker phases. These residual cementitious phases contribute to the favorable strength development. With suitable cement dosage, all cement-stabilized GW mixtures satisfied the strength requirements for road base materials in the Belgian specification, and some even outperformed cement-stabilized natural sand. A unified model was further developed to predict the strength of cement-stabilized GW from different sources with satisfactory accuracy. The results demonstrate that GW is a promising secondary resource for sustainable road base construction and may help reduce natural sand consumption and cement demand.

Source: Case Studies in Construction Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2026.e06249

Authors: Yuelin Li, Kai Dong, Yuqiang Huang, Jiabin Li

Institutions: Changsha University of Science and Technology, KU Leuven

Language: English

Topic: Geotechnical and construction materials studies

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,660