Performance Improvement of Granular Pavement Materials Using a Polyacrylamide-Based Additive

Stabilization using nontraditional additives has been shown to lower carbon footprints compared to traditional ones. Among other traditional and non-traditional additives, polymers have shown an efficient performance in the field and improved sustainability. Polyacrylamide (PAM) is one such additive that has demonstrated many advantages including a reduction in permeability, an increase in durability and the provision of strength characteristics. However, information about its effect on the improved geotechnical characteristics is very limited to the field performance monitoring. Therefore, a laboratory investigation was carried out to investigate the benefits of using a synthetic PAM additive on the basic and engineering properties for three types of soils. The results showed an increase in dry density and unconfined compressive strength for all the soils. The results further demonstrated an increase in unsoaked CBR and a reduction in permeability for all the stabilized samples.