South Dakota Granular Moisture-Density Curve Development and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Implementation

Details

• Creators:
  Nobakht, Mona ; Cary, Carlos
• Corporate Creators:
  Quality Engineering Solutions, Inc.
• Corporate Contributors:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Moisture content
  • Density
  • Cone penetrometers
  • Compaction
  • Quality control
  • Granular materials
  • Implementation
  • Data collection
  • Field tests
  • Performance
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  SD2023-02
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; South Dakota
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  South Dakota. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) currently estimates optimum moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry unit weight (MDUW) for granular materials using one-point Proctor tests together with the Ohio Highway Department (OHD) moisture-density family of curves. Because the OHD curves were developed using materials from outside South Dakota, their applicability to local granular materials is uncertain. This study redeveloped the SDDOT moisture-density family of curves using compaction data collected from South Dakota construction projects and evaluated the applicability of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) specification for compaction quality control. A database of 294 compaction curves was compiled and analyzed to develop SDDOT moisture-density relationships. Regression analysis was used to estimate OMC and MDUW values, and a new family of curves was generated using Gaussian models. The curves were converted to wet unit weight relationships and expanded using a universal model to produce curves at 1-pcf density increments. Verification and validation analyses demonstrated improved prediction accuracy of the new SDDOT curves compared with the OHD curves. An Excel-based tool was also developed to automate the determination of compaction parameters from one-point Proctor test data. The applicability of the MnDOT DCP specification for SDDOT materials was evaluated using side-by-side field data, including DCP measurements, sand cone density tests, nuclear density gauge measurements, and proctor test results. The analysis showed generally good agreement between DCP-based compaction acceptance and density-based criteria. Optimization analysis identified adjustments to allowable Dynamic Penetration Index (DPI) and SEAT thresholds that improved agreement between the two methods. The study recommends adoption of the new SDDOT moisture-density curves, implementation of the automated Excel tool, and a three-year parallel implementation program to verify correct implementation and integration of the refined DCP specification with the new SDDOT moisture-density curves and to validate the combined field performance.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93352/dot_93352_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.70 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e99e0710a25b1b96ca21d898adfa5fd7cce44d7aeb7787b2c7ffa8195388ddb93050132ac97f84641f48e3d1f84c417b45d0551cbe721d93ff1d4bb1269808bf