ALBIOMA
Project presentation
Under the programme ALBIOM-H®, a test board was carried out on the site of VALORUN in Cambaie (La Réunion) to assess the performance of materials for road infrastructure and technical platforms.
This experimental project aims to demonstrate the potential for recovery of alternative biomass combustion materials associated with severe recycled concrete, in a logic of circular economy and reduction of the environmental footprint of public works.
The experiment was piloted jointly by the VALORUN and RHINNOV, with technical follow-up and lift tests carried out over several deadlines up to 28 days.
The project has several major objectives:
- Valorizing alternative materials from local sectors;
- Reduce the use of natural resources;
- Develop technical solutions adapted to island territories;
- Evaluate the mechanical performance of the ALBIOM-AG mixture in real conditions;
- Confirm the compatibility of the material with the requirements of technical platforms and traffic infrastructure.
Composition of ALBIOM-AG material
The experimental mixture used is composed of:
- Grave recycled concrete 0/80 ;
- Biomass combustion scories 0/10.
The whole mixture has been prepared with a precise adjustment of the water content in order to achieve an optimal water state for compaction and mechanical performance.
Implementation
The test board was carried out on a excavation of:
- 21.7 m long ;
- 4 m wide ;
- 40 cm thick.
The material was implemented in two successive layers with: grader adjustment, topographical control, controlled compaction, water adjustment and laboratory follow-up.
The compaction operations were carried out with a BOMAG BW 219 D-5 compactor with controlled speed and a number of passes defined according to technical requirements.
Technical results
Plate tests at different times show a very favourable evolution in the mechanical performance of the material.
Evolution of portance to J+28
Average change in lift at J+28: +93 %
The results obtained enable the final platform to be classified as PF3either a lift between 120 and 200 MPa according to GTR 2024.
Field observations
At 28 days, visual observations highlight:
- excellent handling under traffic;
- low surface porosity;
- a very low rejection rate;
- a satisfactory homogeneity despite the initial disparities of the terrain support.
After a year, and despite high PL traffic on this access road, the behaviour exceeds expectations, and rejection is very limited.
Innovation & circular economy
The results obtained offer important prospects for llogistics platforms, technical roads, shape layers, industrial developments and sustainable infrastructure in the island.
This project illustrates in concrete terms the capacity of the actors in the sector to:
- turning industrial by-products into technical resources;
- developing efficient alternative materials;
- reduce the environmental impact of infrastructure;
- promote short circuits and local development.
This project is fully part of AFOCO's approach to innovation, ecological transition and the circular economy applied to alternative materials.
