A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF SPENT OIL SHALE AS ROAD CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

The use of spent oil shale material as aggregate for flexible pavement construction was investigated, and its suitability for use both in base courses and in bituminous surface courses is discussed. To assess the aggregate and asphalt-aggregate characteristics of spent shale the following tests were performed: the Los Angeles abrasion test, the dry sieve analysis, the specific gravity test, the Atterberg limits test, and the Hveem method of mix design. The results of the testing showed that the spent shale aggregate was well-graded, flat, angular, highly absorbent, friable, and nonplastic, has a rough surface texture, and wears relatively easily. The aggregate mixes tested by the Hveem stabilometer yielded high strength values and were relatively lightweight. The asphalt-spent shale mixtures studied showed very high total resistance (combination of stability and cohesiometer values) values, i.e., more than adequate load-carrying capability. However, the asphalt contents necessary for these very high strengths were also high. Based on the results of the tests performed, it seems apparent that this particular type of spent shale material might perform very well in flexible pavement structures. Although the material showed more than adequate strength and stability, it may not stand up as well to the abrasive action of traffic on high-capacity roads and may be expensive because of the seemingly large amount of asphalt needed. However, this mixture might perform very well as a surface course layer for lower capacity roads (e.g., secondary roads).

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/549/549-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=A+PRELIMINARY+INVESTIGATION+OF+THE+FEASIBILITY+OF+SPENT+OIL+SHALE+AS+ROAD+CONSTRUCTION+MATERIAL&author=G.+Gromko&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Characteristics of Bituminous Paving Mixtures to Meet Structural Requirements. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Gromko, Gerald J
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 47-54
• Monograph Title: Bituminous Mixtures, Aggregates, and Pavements
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 549
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Asphalt content; Atterberg limits; Costs; Flexible pavements; Friability; Hveem stabilometer; Measurement; Mechanical stability; Mix design; Oil shales; Pavement base course; Pavement surface course; Performance; Sieve analysis; Specific gravity; Strength of materials; Texture; Wear
• Identifier Terms: Los Angeles Abrasion Test
• Old TRIS Terms: Aggregate characteristics; Specific gravity tests
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00129486
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024544
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM