Abstract:
Several technologies are currently available to stabilize the unbound layers of road pavements. The use of these
solutions, often manufactured by means of chemical processes, is steadily increasing worldwide. As an alter native natural resource, the use of bentonite represents a valid option when it comes to road stabilization and its
application in this context is still relatively unexplored. This study characterises the use of calcium based
bentonite and sodium based bentonite to stabilize a typical road base layer. Considering two types of aggregates
with different geological origin, the laboratory investigation is performed on dry specimens by means of repeated
load triaxial tests, which assess the enhancement in stiffness and resistance to permanent deformation. The
findings show that both the investigated types of bentonite are suitable for road stabilization. Even if negligible
from a road engineering standpoint, the performance stemming from calcium bentonite was slightly better than
the one pertaining to sodium bentonite when it came to the increase in resilient modulus.