Recycled Glass Utilization in Highway Construction

The utilization of recycled glass in highway applications has been occurring over the past couple of decades. In recent years, the discovery of several economic and environmental benefits could increase the use of recycled glass in highway construction, making the evaluation of the engineering properties of glass and aggregate mixes necessary. The uses of recycled glass have varied widely, depending on the specific application. Crushed recycled glass, or cullet, has been used independently, and has also been blended with natural stone construction aggregate at different replacement rates. This research provides an evaluation of the potential use of glass cullet when used in combination with natural base course aggregate for roadway construction. This research studied the strength and moisture/density characteristics of different glass and aggregate blends to examine the effects of blending glass cullet into base course aggregate. Two sources of natural aggregate were tested; one being crusher run and very angular in nature and the other being pit-run and rounded in nature. The glass was introduced into the aggregate at replacement rates of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Four different maximum glass cullet sizes were also tested, with maximum sizes ranging from 3/4” to 3/8”. The strength of the glass-aggregate blends was evaluated using the AASHTO T190-Resistance R-value Test. Analysis of the data showed that glass cullet mixed with the more angular crusher run aggregate (LAF) performed more consistently than when the cullet was combined with the rounded natural aggregate (STAR) for all sizes and replacement rates. The LAF glass-aggregate blends had average strength values above or slightly lower than the control mix across all replacement rates and maximum cullet sizes. The STAR blends exhibited a decrease in strength as both cullet size and replacement rate increased. The moisture-density relationships were determined in accordance with AASHTO T99-Standard Proctor Test. The maximum size of glass cullet used was shown to be insignificant in determining the optimum moisture content and maximum density of the blends. The replacement rate had a significant effect on both the compaction properties. As the cullet content increased the optimum moisture content increase and the maximum density decreased.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=596
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Wyoming, Laramie

  Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering
  1000 East University Avenue
  Laramie, WY  United States  82071

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108
• Authors:
  • Finkle, Isaac
  • Ksaibati, Khaled
• Publication Date: 2007-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 25p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coarse aggregates; Crushed aggregates; Glass fibers; Moisture content; Recycled materials; Road construction; Rural areas; Rural highways; Stone
• Geographic Terms: Wyoming
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01090139
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC Report No. 07-192
• Files: UTC, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 21 2008 8:13AM