Abstract:
The use of naturally available materials not conforming to traditional specifications or
standards in the base and sub-base layers of road pavement structures and stabilised with Newage
(Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME) have been tested, implemented and successfully verified
through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) in South Africa. This was made possible through the
development and use of a materials design procedure addressing fundamental principles and based
on scientific concepts which are universally applicable. The understanding and incorporation of
the chemical interactions between the mineralogy of the materials and an NME stabilising agent
(compatibility between the chemistry of the reactive agents and material mineralogy) into the
design approach is key to achieving the required engineering properties. The evaluation of the
stabilised materials is performed using tests indicative of the basic engineering properties (physics)
of compressive strengths, tensile strengths and durability. This article describes the basic materials
design approach that was developed to ensure that organofunctional nano-silane modified emulsions
can successfully be used for pavement layer construction utilising naturally available materials at a
low risk. The enablement of the use of naturally available materials in all pavement layers can have a
considerable impact on the unit cost and lifecycle costs of road transportation infrastructure.
