Low-cost rural surface alternatives : demonstration project.

Details

• Creators:
  Li, Cheng ; Ashlock, Jeramy ; White, David ; Vennapusa, Pavana
• Corporate Creators:
  Iowa State University. Institute for Transportation
• Corporate Contributors:
  Iowa. Highway Research Board ; Iowa. Dept. of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Alternatives Analysis Demonstration Projects Economic Analysis Freeze Thaw Durability Geogrids Gravel Roads Highway Maintenance Low Volume Roads Macadam Pavement Layers Soil Stabilization

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  IHRB Project TR-664
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Iowa
• Corporate Publisher:
  Iowa State University. Institute for Transportation
• Abstract:
  The goals of this project were to implement several stabilization methods for preventing or mitigating freeze-thaw damage to
  
  granular surfaced roads and identify the most effective and economical methods for the soil and climate conditions of Iowa.
  
  Several methods and technologies identified as potentially suitable for Iowa were selected from an extensive analysis of existing
  
  literature provided with Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) Project TR-632.
  
  Using the selected methods, demonstration sections were constructed in Hamilton County on a heavily traveled two-mile section
  
  of granular surfaced road that required frequent maintenance during previous thawing periods. Construction procedures and costs
  
  of the demonstration sections were documented, and subsequent maintenance requirements were tabulated through two seasonal
  
  freeze-thaw periods.
  
  Extensive laboratory and field tests were performed prior to construction, as well as before and after the two seasonal freeze-thaw
  
  periods, to monitor the performance of the demonstration sections. A weather station was installed at the project site and
  
  temperature sensors were embedded in the subgrade to monitor ground temperatures up to a depth of 5 ft and determine the
  
  duration and depths of ground freezing and thawing.
  
  An economic analysis was performed using the documented construction and maintenance costs, and the estimated cumulative
  
  costs per square yard were projected over a 20-year timeframe to determine break-even periods relative to the cost of continuing
  
  current maintenance practices.
  
  Overall, the sections with biaxial geogrid or macadam base courses had the best observed freeze-thaw performance in this study.
  
  These two stabilization methods have larger initial costs and longer break-even periods than aggregate columns, but counties
  
  should also weigh the benefits of improved ride quality and savings that these solutions can provide as excellent foundations for
  
  future paving or surface upgrades.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:480a209f85030d0a2784a8ad43ff8e8078eb680d584225b95ca90184d6c1c909bd83691faf23aeffc48eb3b05b9003ff8895dfdddaae9968278623ca73ea7323
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29072/dot_29072_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 30.45 MB ]