Strength and fatigue performance for cement-treated aggregate base materials

In order to reveal the characteristics of strength and fatigue damage of cement-treated aggregate base materials and improve the accuracy of semi-rigid base asphalt pavement design, the unconfined compressive strength tests, flexural strength tests were conducted under the curing periods of 3, 7, 14, 28, 60 and 90 days. The flexural strength tests of different loading rates were employed under the curing period of 90 days. A power function was applied to the pattern of variation of strength with curing periods and loading rates. The mechanism of the effect of curing periods and loading rate on flexural strength was revealed. The relationship between unconfined compressive strength (a construction quality control index in Chinese Standards) and flexural strength (a structural design parameter in Chinese Standards) was performed. To this end, the construction quality index and structural design parameter were unified. In addition, the flexural fatigue equation and fatigue damage model under different curing periods were also established in this study. The results showed that the curing periods have a significant influence on the strength and fatigue performance for cement-treated aggregate base materials. The theoretical basis of durable semi-rigid asphalt pavement design was provided by this research.

Automated summary

This study conducted experiments on the strength and fatigue damage characteristics of cement-treated aggregate base materials, revealing the mechanisms of the effects of curing periods and loading rates on flexural strength. The research established a unified relationship between construction quality control index and structural design parameter, providing a theoretical basis for durable semi-rigid asphalt pavement design.