Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Columbite Tailings-Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Blends As Highway Material
by Joseph Ejelikwu Edeh, Joel Manasseh, and Maureen Omoneka Itseore

Abstract:
Columbite tailings generated from extraction process of separating valuable fractions from particular ore are found disposed in large quantities at mining sites and/or premises of mining companies. Massive highway reconstruction and maintenance works also generates large volume of reclaimed asphalt pavements waste. This paper present results of the laboratory evaluation of of reclaimed asphalt pavements-columbite tailings blends with a view to determine its suitability for use as flexible pavement material. The mixtures were subjected to Reduced British Standard light (Reduced Proctor), British Standard light (standard Proctor), West African Standard and British Standard heavy (Modified Proctor) compactive efforts to determine the moisture-density relationship, California bearing ratio, durability and water absorption of the blends. The reclaimed asphalt pavements waste improved with columbite tailings treatment. The maximum dry density increased while the optimum moisture content decreased with higher columbite tailings in the blends. The peak California bearing ratio values of 27.5 % (unsoaked) for 40% RAP + 60% CT using the BSL (SP) compactive effort and 24.4 % (soaked for 24 hours) for 50% RAP + 50% CT using the BSH (MP) compactive effort. The optimum blends satisfied durability requirements with insignificant water absorption and can be used as subgrade material in flexible pavement construction. Further work may be encouraged to assess resilient modulus of this material under cyclic load.

Keywords: Nigerian economy, petroleum industry, corrosion deteriorations, previous data, statistical analysis

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