The influence of binding agents on stiffness of mineral-cement-emulsion mixtures

Abstract

This paper attempts to determine the behavior of mineral-cement-emulsion mixture (MCE) under load, whether is it similar to asphalt mixtures (viscoelastic behavior) or to cement treated materials (elastic behavior). To answer this question nine mineral-cement emulsion mixtures with different combinations of cement and emulsion content were tested in laboratory using Simple Performance Test (SPT). For each mixture stiffness moduli and phase angles were assessed for three different temperatures (4, 20 and 40 deg. C) and 9 load frequencies. Conducted tests revealed complex behavior of mineral-cement-emulsion mixes, which is intermediate between elastic and viscoelastic. Opposite combinations of cement and emulsion content showed either more elastic or more viscoelastic behavior. This article presents stiffness moduli and phase angles determined for all 9 mixtures and analysis of this results. The increase of cement content leaded to more elastic behavior (higher values of stiffness moduli and lower values of phase angles) and increase of emulsion content leaded to more viscoelastic behavior (lower values of stiffness moduli and higher values of phase angles). Nonetheless mineral-cement-emulsions mixtures showed more viscoelastic behavior, as their properties change significantly with the change of temperature, but their behavior is not as viscous as in asphalt concrete, as their maximum phase angle is much lower than typical for asphalt concrete.