Review of the design, characterisation and production of foamed bitumen stabilised base courses for pavement construction

ABSTRACT

Foamed bitumen stabilisation is a unique pavement treatment option for improving new granular materials or rehabilitating existing granular layers that have exceeded their serviceable life. As a type of expedient construction technology, the application of foamed bitumen stabilisation technology to Australian pavements is exceptionally promising, with the product of the stabilisation process being a flexible material for use as base and subbase course, but with an increased modulus and reduced susceptibility to the effects of moisture ingress. Increasing demands on pavements, compounded with quality unbound pavement materials proving more difficult to acquire is necessitating the hauling of materials over long distances and this significantly increases typical pavement construction and maintenance costs. However, stabilisation of existing, marginal and non-standard granular materials can offer a logistically convenient and cost-effective solution. This paper reviews the design, construction and characterisation of foamed bitumen stabilised granular material for pavements. First, the technology of foamed bitumen stabilisation is summarised and then the design and production practices are reviewed, before concluding with future developments for stabilisation practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Foamed bitumen stabilisation
• in-situ
• ex-situ
• expedient pavement
• runway construction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tom Weir

Tom Weiris an Officer in the Royal Australia Air Force and was a Master of Science (Engineering) student investigating the effects of production method and curing on the properties of foamed bitumen stabilisation base courses.  Tom holds of Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree as well as his Master of Science.

Greg White

Greg White is the Director of Pavement Research at the University of the Sunshine Coast.  Greg's specialisation is airport pavements and Greg holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, various Masters degrees by research and by course work, as well as a PhD, all in airport pavement materials and engineering.

Roberto Espinosa

Roberto Espinosa is a laboratory manager and technical engineer working for Fulton Hogan.   Roberto was a Master of Science (Engineering) student investigating the use of marginal granular materials for foamed bitumen stabilisation.  As well as his Master of Science, Roberto hold a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree.