Kumar Sanu,
Anand Raj,
Abstract
The immediate need for sustainable infrastructure has driven research into new materials in road construction with the goal of reducing environmental degradation and enhancing resource efficiency. This review is a comparative analysis of four innovative technologies involving industrial and natural waste products: recycled aggregates from construction and demolition (C&D) waste, feldspar powder from lithium mining, stabilized dam sediments using eucalyptus ash, and calcium carbide residue (CCR) blended with dredged sludge. All the materials are assessed for their mechanical performance, environmental sustainability, economic viability, and ease of implementation. The findings show that the materials from wastes not only minimize natural resource dependence but also improve mechanical performance, including unconfined compressive strength and California Bearing Ratio, and qualify as potential substitutes for pavement subbase and subgrade layers. The recycled aggregates provide structural stability and economies through thinning of pavement and pressure reduction on the landfill. Feldspar-lateritic clay composites and CCR-stabilized sludge have better strength and durability, whereas dam sediment with eucalyptus ash has exceptional pozzolanic activity, leading to densification and sustainability. From an environmental perspective, the technologies yield lower greenhouse gas emissions, efficient waste disposal, and circular economy compliance. Economically, the use of locally sourced waste saves on material purchasing and construction costs, leading to improved project feasibility. Notwithstanding these benefits, other challenges like variability in quality, absence of standardized guidelines, public mistrust, and regulatory restrictions remain. But developments in stabilization of materials, life cycle assessments (LCA) technologies, and intelligent monitoring technologies offer potential solutions. The study underscores the transformative potential of integrating sustainable materials in road construction, advocating for field-scale research, optimized blends, and policy support to mainstream green practices in civil infrastructure. This aligns with global sustainability goals and paves the way for resilient, eco-friendly transportation networks.
Keywords: Sustainable Road construction, recycled aggregates, feldspar powder, dam sediment, calcium carbide residue, circular economy, eco-friendly infrastructure.
[This article belongs to Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management ]
Kumar Sanu, Anand Raj. Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Materials in Road Construction: A Review. Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management. 2025; 15(03):93-98.
Kumar Sanu, Anand Raj. Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Materials in Road Construction: A Review. Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management. 2025; 15(03):93-98. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jocetm/article=2025/view=214526
References
1. Foth, M., Haichert, R., Guenther, D., & Berthelot, C. (2011). Sustainability Case Study Review of Using Recycled Aggregate in Road Structure. In 2011 conference and exhibition of the transportation association of canada. Transportation successes: let’s build on them. 2011 Congress et Exhibition de l’Association des Transports du Canada. Les Succes en Transports: Une Tremplin vers l’AvenirTransportation Association of Canada (TAC).
2. Alibeigibeni, A., Stochino, F., Zucca, M., & Gayarre, F. L. (2025). Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete. Buildings, 15(8), 1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081361
3. Abdelhalim Azam et al. “Life Cycle Assessment and Pavement Performance of Recycled Aggregates in Road Construction.” Case Studies in Construction Materials 20 (2024): e03062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03062.
4. Bowen Guan et al. “Sustainable Utilization of Feldspar Powder from Lithium Extraction Byproducts as Road Construction Material.” Case Studies in Construction Materials 21 (2024): e04039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04039.
5. Nunthanis Wongvatana et al. “Sustainable Road Construction Materials Incorporating Dam Sediment and Eucalyptus Ash Waste: A Circular Economy Framework.” Case Studies in Construction Materials 22 (2025): e04118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04118.
6. Kexin Guo et al. “Calcium Carbide Residue-Based Material for the Stabilization of Dredged Sludge and Its Use in Road Subgrade Construction.” Case Studies in Construction Materials 21 (2024): e03452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03452.
7. Fanijo, E. O., Kolawole, J. T., Babafemi, A. J., & Liu, J. (2023). A comprehensive review on the use of recycled concrete aggregate for pavement construction: Properties, performance, and sustainability. Cleaner Materials, 9, 100199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clema.2023.100199
8. Toumi, Y., Mezhoud, S., Boukendakdji, O., & Hadjadj, M. (2023). Evaluation of Recycled Brick Waste Aggregates as a Sustainable Substitute in Cement Treated Base. Selected Scientific Papers-Journal of Civil Engineering, 18(1), 20230008. https://doi.org/10.2478/sspjce-2023-0008
9. Khasawneh, M. A., Ahmed, D., Alkhammas, F., Almshar, Z., Husssain, M., Alshali, D., … & Alzayer, H. (2024). Renewable energy in pavement engineering and its integration with sustainable materials: A review paper. Materials Research Proceedings, 43. http://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781644903216-49
10. Medina, Manuel et al. “Systematic Review on the LCA of Pavement Materials Containing Waste Materials.” Environmental Sustainability in Construction 12 (2022): 99-115. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014892
11. Hossain, Mohammad et al. “Environmental Benefits of Replacing Virgin Aggregates with Recycled Concrete Aggregates.” Construction and Building Materials 87 (2023): 456-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.02.009
12. Shi, X., Mukhopadhyay, A., Zollinger, D., & Grasley, Z. (2019). Economic input-output life cycle assessment of concrete pavement containing recycled concrete aggregate. Journal of cleaner production, 225, 414-425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.288
Journal of Construction Engineering, Technology & Management
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 03 |
| Received | 16/05/2025 |
| Accepted | 24/06/2025 |
| Published | 25/06/2025 |
| Publication Time | 40 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics