Speaker
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Nancy Aguirre PhDDirector of Concrete Pavements | Cement Council of TexasDr. Nancy Aguirre is the Director of Concrete Pavements for the Cement Council of Texas (CCT), with research experience in concrete pavement analysis and finite element modeling. Since joining CCT in August 2019, she has focused on expanding the use of cement in concrete paving applications by promoting sustainable, resilient solutions for the design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of pavement systems. Her technical expertise includes continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) design, optimized concrete mix development, and the implementation of blended cements to reduce carbon impacts. Nancy works closely with TxDOT districts, local agencies, and research institutions to advance best practices across Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and currently serves on the boards of the ASCE El Paso Branch.
Local Time
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Date: Sep 18 2026
- Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
High-PI Stabilization for Concrete Pavement Performance
Concrete pavements are widely recognized for their structural capacity and long service life; however, long-term performance is fundamentally dependent on uniform and stable foundation support. Expansive, highly plastic clays (PI ≥ 35) contribute to differential movement, moisture-driven distress, and reduced pavement reliability, underscoring the importance of effective subgrade stabilization in resilient pavement systems.
This presentation provides a concrete pavement performance overview with emphasis on foundation engineering and soil treatment strategies. It then examines recent research evaluating the stabilization of low-, medium-, and high-PI soils using cement (Type I/II and IL), lime, and combined lime–cement treatment. Laboratory testing included Atterberg limits, moisture–density relationships, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) under soaked and non-soaked conditions, and CBR, LWD, and DCP to assess strength development, plasticity reduction, and swell mitigation.
Results indicate that highly plastic clays can be effectively treated with cement, and that as plasticity increases, combined lime–cement stabilization may provide enhanced reductions in PI and swell while maintaining strength. The findings support performance-based stabilization approaches and encourage broader consideration of treatment options to improve foundation uniformity, manage risk, and enhance the long-term performance of concrete pavement systems.
