Construction experience analysis of using cematrix lightweight cellular concrete as a subbase material

Lightweight Cellular Concrete or LCC, also sometimes known as "foamed concrete" or "aerated concrete" is a useful construction material with many applications. LCC has some advantages such as sustainability, light weight, excellent thermal properties, freeze-thaw resistance, good flowability, cost-effectiveness. Due to its properties, it is a good material choice for contractors and transportation ministries to use in different applications in all weather conditions. It also satisfies construction requirements in poor soil areas-it is a good base for the pavement over weak soils because this material can reduce the effective stress on the underlying soil. The objective of this paper is to study and analyze the performance of the pavement sections with the LCC subbase in comparison with the regular pavement sections on the same roads. Three road sections that had been constructed with lightweight cellular concrete as a subbase were evaluated through pavement condition survey following ASTM D6433. It has shown that three sections were in good condition, without severe distresses. Preliminary failure criteria analysis was conducted using Weslea software. It has been found that using lightweight cellular concrete as a subbase has greater allowable number of load repetitions for fatigue cracking and rutting than using granular material. This indicates that lightweight cellular concrete could be considered as an alternative pavement subbase material.