Construction of road sections using mixed recycled aggregates treated with cement in Malaga, Spain

In Spain, the use of recycled aggregates (RA) in the construction of road sub-bases and embankments is growing. Some authors have studied the possibility of using RA in applications with a higher added value, such as the construction of untreated granular sub-bases. However, there is little research on the properties and behaviour of mixed RA treated with cement when used in actual projects as a base for paving roads. This paper includes an investigation of the source of the construction and demolition waste used in RA, the processing plant for the production of RA that manufactures the material treated with cement, and the actual use of RA in a construction project as the sub-base of a motorway access ramp. The results show that the use of some of these aggregates in roads is entirely feasible and that the benefits associated with these aggregates extend beyond the environmental aspects of their use. Some authors have studied the possibility of using these recycled materials in the laboratory, but there are few studies based on real uses of RA from construction and demolition waste (CDW) in roads.

► A real application of mixed recycled aggregates in a road base and sub-base was used to prove their efficacy.
► The effect of using natural and recycled aggregates on the mechanical behaviour of the road was summarised.
► By controlling the origin and processing of CDW, mixed recycled aggregates can be used in road bases and sub-bases.