Study of Sand Characteristics as Bearing and Filler in Joint of Inter-locking Concrete Block Pavement

The use of interlocking concrete block pavement as a road surface has increased in the road constructionrecently. This study was conducted to envisage the problems occur particularly for the bedding and joint filling sand of the interlocking concrete block pavement. Moreover, the effect of the moisture on the bedding sandwas also studied. Two type of additives namely as palm oil fly ash (POFA) and silica fume, which carry thepozzolanic behaviour, were mixed with joint filling sand in order to improve its quality. These materials areindustrial waste compound which can be easily found in Malaysia. Two types of permeability experiments,the constant and falling head tests were conducted to evaluate the permeability of the joint filling sands withthe percentage additives used of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%. A physical model was developed to investigatethe degree of compaction and water absorption via sand in joints. Water absorption test was also conductedonto the model with the addition of additives of 0%, 5% and 10% with the joint filling sand for 5 and 10days. Study shown that the incorporation of additives reduced the permeability of joint filling sand withthe optimum values obtained for both POFA and silica fume mixtures both were at 2% respectively.