EFFECTS OF BASE COMPACTION ON MAINTENANCE COSTS AND PERFORMANCE

EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER COMPACTION OF HIGHWAY EMBANKMENTS AND THE NECESSITY OF A CERTAIN TIME PASSING BEFORE THE COMPLETE STABILIZATION OF THE MATERIALS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. IN THE DESIRE TO OPEN A ROAD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THIS TIME ELEMENT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THE MAINTENANCE MAN FREQUENTLY FINDS THAT THE BEAUTIFUL ROAD TURNED OVER TO HIM SOON SETTLES AND BREAKS UP, REQUIRING REPAIRS SOON AFTER COMPLETION. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SSING HOLES BEING DRILLED IN NEW PAVEMENTS TO ALLOW MUDJACKING OPERATIONS TO CORRECT FAULTY COMPACTION IS UNDESIRABLE. IT IS LIKEWISE EXPENSIVE. AS THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH EMBANKMENTS ARE PLACED CAN SELDOM BE CONTROLLED TO AN IDEAL, UNIFORM COMPACTION CANNOT BE SECURED BY MECHANICAL MEANS ALONE. TIME MUST BE ALLOWED FOR COMPLETE ADJUSTMENT OF THE PARTICLES. EXPERIENCE GAINED ON MAINTENANCE WORK INDICATES THAT AT LEAST ONE YEAR'S TIME SHOULD ELAPSE BEFORE PLACING A HIGH TYPE COSTLY PAVEMENT. DURING SUCH TIME A TEMPORARY SURFACE SUCH AS GRAVEL, CRUSHED STONE OR CHEAP BITUMINOUS TREATMENT SHOULD BE APPLIED. THE DISCUSSION IS ALSO TRUE FOR THE SO-CALLED LOWER TYPE PAVEMENTS. EVEN THOUGH THESE RECEIVE MECHANICAL COMPACTION, SOME TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR FINAL ADJUSTMENT TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO THE MAXIMUM TRAFFIC. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbproceedings/19/19-037.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 19, pp 460-463, 3 FIG. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Forrer, J J
  • Mack, W W
  • Root, W H
  • Conner, C N
  • Poultier, J W
• Publication Date: 1940

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board Held at Washington, D.C. December 5-8, 1939
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Proceedings
  • Volume: 19
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Compaction; Defects; Pavement distress; Pavements
• Old TRIS Terms: Bases
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00233047
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 3 1971 12:00AM