TITLE:
Improvement of the Mechanical Properties of Clayey Sand by Addition of Demolition Debris for Use in Road Bases
AUTHORS:
Hermann Durand Ohouo, Séraphin Agré Djomo, Ulrich Raoul Bleh Kouassi
KEYWORDS:
Clayey Sand, Demolition Debris, Road Geotechnics, CBR, Recycling
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.13 No.6,
November
14,
2025
ABSTRACT: The mechanical quality of a road depends heavily on its sub-base layer, which must ensure adequate load-bearing capacity and effective load distribution. This study investigates the enhancement of mechanical properties of clayey sands abundant in southern Côte d’Ivoire through the addition of demolition debris. Five sites were examined: Samo, Cocody, Dabou, Songon, and Grand-Lahou. Characterization tests (particle size analysis, Atterberg limits, Proctor compaction, and CBR tests) revealed that, in their natural state, the clayey sands exhibit insufficient plasticity and bearing capacity for use as base layers. The progressive incorporation of demolition debris (up to 12%) significantly improves the CBR index, reaching up to 142% for the soil from Dabou. This valorization of recycled materials offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution that meets the technical requirements of road construction projects.