This study investigated the potential use of Zerdezas dam Calcined Sediments (CS) and El-Hadjar Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) from northern Algeria as a partial replacement of cement (C) in normal hardening hydraulic road binders. Two binder mix designs were optimized using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The first mix, 50C35GGBS15CS, consisted of 50% cement, 35% blast furnace slag, and 15% calcined sediment. The second mix, 80C10GGBS10CS, consisted of 80% cement, 10% blast furnace slag, and 10% calcined sediments. The tests of workability, setting time, volume expansion, compressive and flexural strengths, porosity, and SEM were conducted to ensure that both mixes meet the standard requirements for road construction binders. The two proposed mixes were qualified as normal hardening hydraulic road binder. The reuse of the sediments will contribute to a better disposal of dam sediments and steel industry waste and to preserve natural resources that are used for manufacturing cement. It will also contribute to the environmental impact reduction of cement clinker production by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The objective of this research is to investigate the possible reuse of dredged sediments from the port of Cherbourg, France, as an alternative material in road engineering and as a backfill material. These dredged sediments contain high percentages of organic matter (OM), and the presence of OM in the sediment, even in small amounts, can affect the engineering properties of sediments. This research was carried out in two series: the sediment was treated with traditional hydraulic binders (ordinary Portland cement (OPC), calcium sulfo-aluminate (CSA) cement, quarry sand (QS), lime, and a combination of them) in the first series, and with pozzolanic binders in the second series (ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA)), along with the introduction of an activator. According to French legislation, these two pozzolanic binders (GGBS and FA) have no carbon footprint as they are industrial by-products, and therefore, the second series of this research is considered to be highly eco-friendly and economical. Sediment treated with hydraulic binders yielded a maximum value of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of 1 MPa at 28 days. Out of eight formulations made using traditional binders, only one formulation barely met the French criteria to be used in the sub-base layer of roads. The development of geopolymer using alkali-activated GGBS and then the incorporation of 30% sediments yielded a UCS value above 2 MPa at 28, 60, 90, and 180 days. Furthermore, the addition of 5% lime and 3% granular calcium carbonate in the same mixture (geopolymer + 30% sediments) increased the UCS by up to 60% and 90%, respectively.

Digging trenches on roads, sidewalks, or banks to accommodate public demands is required for the installation of water pipelines, natural gas lines, electric cables, and optical fibers. The soils extracted from these trenches always have substantial environmental and economic consequences, as these soils are frequently regarded as waste due to their poor engineering properties. As a result, a suitable location and method for disposing these excavated soils must be found, and this procedure is exceedingly costly, time consuming, and environmentally unfriendly. It is far more efficient to reuse these excavated soils for refilling the same trenches. This study is a part of a French national project. The national project aims to dig 5 to 25 cm wide trenches to install public utilities and to refill them using the same excavated material in the form of self-compacting mortar. The goal of this research is to determine the best ecofriendly binder for the soil excavated from various sites by conducting laboratory-scale physio-chemical and mechanical testing. This study examined the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) assessed by both destructive and non-destructive (ultrasonic) testing methods. By utilizing low CO₂-emitting ecofriendly binders incorporating industrial byproducts (fly ash and GGBS), this work has broadened the possibility of reusing trench cuttings to refill the same trenches.

L’accumulation des sédiments dans les installations portuaires est un phénomène inéluctable. Le dragage revêt donc une importance primordiale pour le maintien de la navigation. Mais le stockage ou le rejet en mer de cette vase pose problème, surtout dans le cas de contamination par des polluants. Cet article présente l’étude de la valorisation des sédiments de dragage du port autonome du Havre traités par un mélange de ciment, chaux, cendre volante et fumée de silice et additifs. Différents pourcentages de liants hydrauliques ont été utilisés. L’étude du comportement à court terme des sédiments stabilisés à été réalisée à l’aide d’essais de compression axiale. Les résultats de cette étude montrent une meilleure performance pour les échantillons confectionnés avec du ciment et de la fumée silice. L’analyse des résultats mécaniques et physico-chimiques des sédiments ainsi stabilisés démontre la possibilité de leur utilisation dans les constructions routières. L'accumulation des sédiments dans les installations portuaires est un phénomène inéluctable. Le dragage revêt donc une importance primordiale pour le maintien de la navigation. Mais le stockage ou le rejet en mer de cette vase pose problème, surtout dans le cas de contamination par des polluants. Cet article présente l'étude de la valorisation des sédiments de dragage du port autonome du Havre traités par un mélange de ciment, chaux, cendre volante et fumée de silice et additifs. Différents pourcentages de liants hydrauliques ont été utilisés. L'étude du comportement à court terme des sédiments stabilisés à été réalisée à l'aide d'essais de compression axiale. Les résultats de cette étude montrent une meilleure performance pour les échantillons confectionnés avec du ciment et de la fumée silice. L'analyse des résultats mécaniques et physico-chimiques des sédiments ainsi stabilisés démontre la possibilité de leur utilisation dans les constructions routières.