Evaluation of the shear behavior of soil-emulsion mixtures with emulsion contents ranging from 16% to 28% by mass

ABSTRACT

In this article, the effect on the resistance parameters of a stabilized SM soil with asphalt emulsion contents varying between 16% and 28% by mass was evaluated. The methodology consisted of collecting and characterizing the soil, mixing the materials and exposing them to air for 24 hours, compacting at the optimal level by Marshall energy (22%), and at levels above (28%) and below (16%) the optimum, and carrying out CIU triaxial compression tests under saturated conditions. The soil presented behavior typical of an elastic-plastic material with hardening, while the mixtures presented behavior similar to that of an elastic perfectly plastic material. As the emulsion content was increased, the friction angles were smaller and, for mixtures with 16% and 22% of content, the cohesive intercepts were higher. The mixture with 28% content of asphalt emulsion had a reduction in its cohesion, due to the excess of binder, which impaired the grain-to-grain contact. It was found that after a certain level of axial deformation, the mixtures obtained a slight gain in resistance, justified by the displacement of the asphalt film.

Keywords
Soil-emulsion; asphalt; shearing strength