Mechanical performance of roadcon-pema-sae-modified cement treated base in pavement applications

Designing cement-treated base (CTB) layers that achieve required stiffness and tensile performance while reducing cement demand and life-cycle costs remains a practical and environmental imperative. Lignosulfonate-based additive offers a viable pathway, yet quantitative and transferable guidance on the trade-offs between cement and additive contents for CTB, especially in Vietnam climates, remains limited. This study investigates the enhancement of CTB using Roadcon-SAE, a lignosulfonate-based additive, for pavement base applications. The objective was to evaluate the effects of cement (3-7%) and additive (0-1%) ratios on the mechanical properties of CTB, including compressive strength (Rc), splitting tensile strength (Rst), and modulus of elasticity (E). A general full factorial experimental design was employed, with samples prepared and tested according to Vietnamese standards. Results showed that increasing cement and additive ratios significantly improved Rc, Rst, and E, with the optimal mixture (7% cement, 1% Roadcon-PEMA-SAE) achieving Rc of 13.97 MPa, Rst exceeding 0.45 MPa, and E surpassing 800 MPa, meeting requirements for flexible pavement bases. Quadratic regression models (R² > 88%) quantified the relationships between input variables and mechanical properties. A cement ratio of 3-5% and additive ratio of 0.8% were recommended for cost-effective performance. This research provides practical guidelines for optimizing CTB in road construction and highlights the efficacy of Roadcon-SAE in enhancing material properties