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:
  • Freeze thaw durability
  • Soil stabilization
  • Low volume roads
  • Demonstration projects
  • Alternatives analysis
  • Gravel roads
  • Pavement layers
  • Highway maintenance
  • Economic analysis
  • Macadam
  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.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29072/dot_29072_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 30.45 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:480a209f85030d0a2784a8ad43ff8e8078eb680d584225b95ca90184d6c1c909bd83691faf23aeffc48eb3b05b9003ff8895dfdddaae9968278623ca73ea7323