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Volume 13 | Issue 6 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJCE-V13I6P105 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I6P105

Performance Assessment of Construction and Demolition Waste Blended with Murum Soil for Pavement Subgrade and Sub-Base Layers

Saloni S. Gidde, R. H. Jadhav

Received Revised Accepted Published
07 Mar 2026 06 Apr 2026 05 May 2026 30 Jun 2026

Citation :

Saloni S. Gidde, R. H. Jadhav, "Performance Assessment of Construction and Demolition Waste Blended with Murum Soil for Pavement Subgrade and Sub-Base Layers," International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 59-72, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I6P105

Abstract

The high rate of urbanization and the development of urban infrastructure have led to the substantial growth in Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, which creates the challenge of landfill utilization and natural resource depletion. Although previous studies have explored recycled aggregates, limited research exists on the direct use of untreated C&D waste blended with Murum soil under Indian conditions. This study investigates the engineering performance of C&D waste–Murum mixtures for pavement subgrade and sub-base applications. Four mix proportions (0%, 15%, 25%, and 50% C&D waste) were evaluated through laboratory tests, including compaction characteristics, Atterberg limits, free swell index, and soaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) in accordance with Indian Standards. The results indicate that increasing C&D waste content reduces specific gravity, maximum dry density, and CBR, while optimum moisture content and plasticity characteristics increase. All mixes satisfy the minimum CBR requirement of 20% for sub-base applications, with an optimum replacement range of 15–25%. Further analysis shows that C&D waste can achieve cost savings of up to 26% and remains economically viable within a transportation distance of approximately 75 km. The addition of 2% lime stabilization enhances the strength of the material at a negligible additional cost. The findings confirm that C&D waste can be effectively utilized as a sustainable alternative material in pavement construction, promoting sustainable infrastructure development through resource conservation and cost efficiency.

Keywords

Bearing capacity, Construction and Demolition Waste, Pavement Subgrade, Resource conservation, Sustainable materials.

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