Geotechnical Characterization of Dredging Sediments for Valorization in Road Embankments: Case of the Cheurfas Dam (Algeria)

In environmental geotechnics, the valorization of dredging sediments and their use in embankments is a way increasingly prospected by researchers these last years. It constitutes therefore a research orientation in harmony with the concept of sustainable development. This paper relates to the study of physico-chemical, mineralogical and mechanical properties of a sediment obtained by dredging in the Cheurfas dam (west of Algeria) and their influence on the hydro-mechanical behaviour in the case of their valorization in the design of road embankments. Various aspects were studied: (i) influence of the natural content of organic matter and salts on the mechanical properties (ii) influence of water content on the density and the strength of the material. With an aim of valorization, a treatment with sand, lime and cement proved to be necessary. Various formulations were elaborated in this direction. The paper presents a preliminary synthesis of the influence of the formulation on the mechanical behaviour.