Recycling Earthquake Rubble in Idlib: Evaluation of Properties and Its Use Road Construction

Abstract

Studies on recycling earthquake rubble for use in road applications are of great importance in the field of civil engineering. These studies aim to assess the properties of these materials and determine their suitability for use in road infrastructure applications. The study includes several different tests that evaluate characteristics potentially affecting the performance of these materials. These include the Los Angeles abrasion test to assess resistance to wear and degradation, the sand equivalent test to evaluate the suitability of aggregates for base layers, and the particle size distribution (gradation) test.Several samples of aggregate mixtures produced by crushing earthquake debris from different locations — such as Idlib, Ariha, and Jisr al-Shughur — were evaluated and compared with a standard sample of crushed limestone aggregates obtained from a certified quarry in northwestern Syria, in order to assess the suitability of these materials.It was found that some recycled materials exhibit acceptable values and meet the required standards, while others require further study to ensure their quality. The results showed that the abrasion values of the samples from the three sites exceed the permissible limits for aggregates used in road surface layers. However, these materials can be used in sub-base layers, albeit with certain precautions. Therefore, it is not recommended to use recycled materials from these three locations in layer of roads.