The long-term performance of pavement structures is heavily reliant on the sustained load-carrying capacity of the subgrade soil. Under repetitive traffic loads, permanent deformation (PD) gradually accumulates in the subgrade due to plastic yielding and soil particle rearrangement, which can compromise the serviceability and durability of overlying pavement layers. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of compacted clay response under long-term cyclic loads through a systematic repeated load triaxial (RLT) testing approach. The proposed approach considered depth-dependent static and dynamic stresses exerted on compacted clay beneath pavement structures and traffic loads. A series of RLT tests were conducted to investigate the impact of key factors, including soil properties (moisture content and compaction degree), stress conditions (confining pressure and deviator stress), and load characteristics (load duration and rest period), on the PD behaviour of compacted clay subgrade. Stress-strain hysteresis loops and damping ratios were analyzed to enhance the fundamental understanding of subgrade PD evolution. The results showed that higher moisture content and lower compaction degree significantly increased PD, with the PD response transitioning from plastic shakedown to plastic creep. Greater deviator stress also exacerbated PD accumulation. Variations in loading duration and rest period influenced the PD behaviour, demonstrating the importance of accurately simulating the stress history experienced by subgrade soil elements under traffic loading. The findings provide valuable insights to optimize subgrade design and implement performance-based management of pavements.

The road sector is actively exploring strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by investigating the potential use of local and recycled materials, including quarry waste sand. This study presents the results of frost heave and repeated load triaxial tests conducted on fully characterized Norwegian quarry waste sands. The tests examined the effects of two nontraditional additives, lignosulfonate and organosilane, on the engineering properties of the quarry waste sands. Thermal conductivity tests were also performed on untreated samples. The quarry waste sands, including gneiss, gabbro, quartz-diorite, limestone, and granite, exhibited varying fine contents ranging from 7% to 28%. A thermal conductivity model was validated with R2 values ranging from 0.87 to 0.99. The frost susceptibility was found to be reduced by 65% in samples treated with 1% additive content, and further improvements of 85% at a 2% concentration. Moreover, the addition of 1.5% lignosulfonate or 0.5% organosilane significantly improved the resilient modulus, elastic stiffness, and resistance to permanent deformation in all samples. These findings highlight the improved frost protection and mechanical properties of the stabilized quarry waste sands, contributing to enhanced pavement stability and longevity. Furthermore, incorporating lignosulfonate additives in quarry waste sands offers a promising solution for environmentally sustainable road construction. Further research, including comprehensive field-testing and life-cycle cost analyses, is recommended to assess the economic, technical, and environmental aspects of these additives.

The behaviour of unbound granular materials (UGMs) used in road construction is crucial in determining the longevity and performance of road pavement. Geotechnical analysis can assist engineers in selecting suitable materials and designing road pavements that meet industry standards. This paper presents the results of laboratory geotechnical tests conducted on unbound granular materials (UGMs) collected from three sites (Roses Gap, Rules East, and Polkemmet Road) in Horsham, Victoria, Australia. UGMs were investigated for their mechanical behaviour and suitability as subgrade materials for road pavements. The study utilised laboratory geotechnical tests, including particle size distribution (PSD), Atterberg limits, compaction (Proctor) test, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and repeated load triaxial (RLT) tests, to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the UGM samples. The study indicates that UGM samples collected from different locations displayed variations in their geotechnical properties, such as particle size distribution, water absorption, and CBR strength. Roses Gap samples showed weak cohesion properties, and significant vertical displacements after repeated triaxial tests. However, among the samples in this site, samples with higher clay content (RG21) demonstrated the most promise in triaxial tests. Similarly, the Rules East samples were found to be suitable for low-traffic subgrades due to their satisfactory CBR and RLT testing results, albeit with little cohesion from clay content. Out of three locations, Polkemmet samples were identified as potential subgrade applications, with PR12 being the top recommendation overall. It satisfied PSD, CBR, and RLT test conditions due to acceptable particle size in the largest range, highest CBR strength value, and lowest permanent displacement. The study's findings provide useful information for the design of road pavements using these materials and the characterisation of rural materials around the Horsham region for future use in various other contexts.