Evaluation of full-depth reclamation with mechanical stabilization: a case study on road rehabilitation

This study evaluates the performance of full-depth reclamation with mechanical stabilization (MS) for pavement rehabilitation in Québec. Field and laboratory investigations were conducted on a 2.4 km road section to assess gradation, dynamic resistance, and elastic modulus. Dynamic cone penetrometer, light weight deflectometer, and falling weight deflectometer tests were used to characterize strength and stiffness evolution. MS improved layer uniformity but reduced average dynamic resistance by 47%, indicating that pulverization weakened short-term penetration resistance. Right after construction, the MS base showed a higher and less variable elastic modulus (185 MPa) than the subbase (134 MPa). After 1 year, modulus increased by 58% due to confinement from the asphalt overlay and traffic densification. Gradation trends toward the maximum density line confirmed enhanced compaction potential. Overall, MS improves uniformity but the impact on the structural properties of the pavement is limited, which can be problematic in the presence of heavy traffic.