In recent decades, the need to embrace the concepts of the circular economy and ecological transition has become increasingly apparent, especially in the civil engineering sector. This research aims to study a Cement-Bound Granular Material (CBGM) pavement layer using the industrial by-product Anhydrous Calcium Sulphate (ACS) as a partial replacement for Portland Cement (PC) by weight. The dual objective is to reduce environmental impact and ensure long-term high mechanical performance. Mechanical tests conducted at different curing periods (7, 28, 96, and 120 days) showed compressive strength gains of up to 180%. The evolution of the mechanical behavior was correlated with the formation of the gypsum dihydrate and ettringite hydrated phases, found by quantitative XRD analysis, to reinforce the cement matrix. Finite element simulations and fatigue life predictions using Miner’s rule over pavement lifespans of 15, 20, and 30 years indicated an increase in durability by a factor of 4.68 for the ACS-enhanced mixture compared to traditional PC-only formulations. Leaching tests show the material performs within acceptable environmental thresholds, even if its classification and acceptance may differ across regulatory systems, suggesting a solid basis for its application in sustainable practices.
Serpi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.