Michigan (One Point) Cone Test for Evaluating the Density of Open-Graded Drainage Course (OGDC) Materials

Details

• Creators:
  Congress, Surya S. C. ; Cetin, Bora ; Parastegari, Peyman
• Corporate Creators:
  Michigan State University. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Michigan. Department of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Aggregates Cones Density Drainage Gyratory Laboratory Tests Michigan Cone Modified Proctor Open Graded Aggregates Operator Variability Pavements Statistical Analysis Testing

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• Publication/ Report Number:
  SPR-1769
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Michigan
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Michigan Department of Transportation. Research Administration
• Abstract:
  Pavement infrastructure is a significant public investment (over $60 billion annually in the U.S.), yet 39% of major roads are in poor condition, resulting in costly repairs and user expenses. Maximizing pavement longevity is critical to address a projected $684 billion funding gap in road maintenance, and improving compaction quality in pavement base layers has been identified as a high-return strategy to extend service life. This study investigates compaction of open-graded drainage course (OGDC) aggregates, which form the permeable base layers crucial to pavement stability and drainage, using the One-Point M-Cone Test (M-Cone). This collaborative study with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) compared M-Cone results with those from standard laboratory compaction methods across multiple OGDC aggregate sources. Statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the influence of different operators and material sources on the M-Cone outcomes within the controlled laboratory conditions of this study. The results showed that the M-Cone test can achieve maximum dry density (MDD) values comparable to those obtained with the Modified Proctor test, except for aggregates with a high water-absorption tendency. Statistical tests indicated no significant operator variability in M-Cone testing within the controlled laboratory conditions evaluated. Sieve analyses of particle size distributions before and after compaction confirmed that all methods produced some fine particles from aggregate breakage. Overall, the one-point M-Cone test, conducted by trained operators in a laboratory setting, is a reliable indicator of compaction.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  2024-0433
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:34e421652550531bc2c805557bdd0848e0f6ea391b3c2450e579ba2c83930a6525806dcdcd2c88661bc2940dbd0358f1694e80e57d3d4b932c5cd4bb8ae6dbd8
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/91896/dot_91896_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 26.29 MB ]