Numerical modeling of the mechanical response of recycled materials in embankments

Every year, in Europe, 3 billion tonnes of aggregates are required for construction applications and, at the same time, 1.3 billion tonnes of waste are disposed of. The idea of using some of them as new alternative materials could be economically beneficial but several studies have to be done in order to guarantee their bearing capacity and durability. In this study three waste products, clay and lime, pozzolan, sludge and lime and construction and demolition wastes, were selected in order to use them as new alternative materials for embankment construction. On the basis of the information obtained from laboratory and in situ tests, the embankment was simulated by means of the finite element method. Comparisons have been made between in situ and modeled results by considering material stress dependence and surface deflection profiles. Modeling with the finite element system CAPA-3D has shown good agreement with in situ response. The results indicate that stabilized materials can be characterized by a hyperelastic assumption while unbound materials can be appropriately modeled by using a Mr-θ model. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.