Experimental testing for Zarzis port sediments (Tunisia) in road materials

Abstract

This study focused on the feasibility of Tunisian sediment reuse as new road material. Experiments were conducted to investigate sediment reuse as road material. Three mixtures (raw sediments, stabilised sediments with 3% lime and stabilised sediments with 3% cement) were studied with regard to their mechanical performances. The first part of this paper introduces the characterisation of Zarzis sediments. The second part describes the laboratory experiments and the followed methods. The third part is dedicated to the analysis of results. The originality of this work is the use of a minimum percentage of lime, which was determined experimentally. Based on environmental tests, Zarzis sediments were uncontaminated. Thus, they can be reused directly without a decontamination treatment process. Results show that humic compounds complicated sediment treatment with cement. Therefore, cement did not present an appropriate binder for stabilising and solidifying the investigated sediments. Based on mechanical results, a mixture with 3% lime can be used as new road material.