Enhancing Tuff Properties with Hydraulic and Organic Binders for Advancements in Desert Pavement Technology

DEMDOUM, ABDELLAH; DAHEUR, Elhadj Guesmia; LI, Zhong-Sen; ANLAUF, Ruediger

doi:10.22059/ceij.2026.397317.2332

Enhancing Tuff Properties with Hydraulic and Organic Binders for Advancements in Desert Pavement Technology

Articles in Press

Authors

ABDELLAH DEMDOUM ¹

Elhadj Guesmia DAHEUR ²

Zhong-Sen LI ³

Ruediger ANLAUF ⁴

¹ Laboratory of Mathematical and Applied Science, University of Ghardaïa

² Laboratory of Mathematical and Applied Science, University of Ghardaïa,

³ Nantes Université, École Centrale Nantes, CNRS, GeM, UMR 6183, F-44600 Saint-Nazaire, France

⁴ Physics of Soil and Growing Media, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrueck University of Applied Sciences, Osnabrück, Germany, 49009

10.22059/ceij.2026.397317.2332

Abstract

This study aims to valorize local materials to meet the needs of regions deficient in noble materials. The study investigates the effects of processing a tuff from Algeria's Saharan region. Two types of binder were used: hydraulic (cement and/or lime at 3% and 6%) and organic (lignosulfonate at 0.5% and 1%). The effects were observed in both immediate stability (compaction and bearing capacity) and mechanical performance (compressive and shear strength). The results indicate that 1) some raw tuff characteristics are mediocre and do not meet the requirements of various specifications, particularly mechanical performance and sensitivity to water; 2) soaked and unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) significantly improved after treatment; 3) the treatment with cement or lime-cement considerably reduced the tuff’s sensitivity to water; 4) the treatment significantly improves cohesion and even the friction angle, but with smaller gains with increasing binder quantities; and 5) in all tests conducted, cement performed better than the other binders used. Thus, tuff treated with 6% cement or a 6% cement-lime combination may serve as a base or sub-base layer in Saharan road subjected to high traffic volumes and in areas with high rainfall.

Keywords

Tuff

Local materials

Saharan road technology

Soil treatment

Subjects