Evaluation of Seismic Testing for Quality Assurance of Lime-Stabilized Soil

This study sought to determine the technical feasibility of using seismic techniques to measure the laboratory and field seismic modulus of lime-stabilized soils (LSS), and to compare/correlate test results from bench-top (free-free resonance) seismic testing on LSS cylinders to in-situ (surface seismic) testing performed on field-constructed LSS. In addition, this research sought to develop a pilot specification for quality assurance (QA) of LSS using seismic test methods. The growth of modulus was found to vary as a non-linear function of both temperature and curing time. Differences in modulus growth between free-free resonance (LSS cylinders) and surface wave (field-constructed LSS) data can be attributed to construction-related issues, and are not the result of testing equipment/practice. The study supports the recommendations of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) specification for LSS (Section 307) in that grading should be performed immediately after construction as grading conducted on later days (i.e., days 4-8) resulted in significant seismic modulus loss on field-constructed LSS. This study recommends the use of seismic testing for QA of LSS via the pilot specification developed in Chapter 5 of this report. The specification allows for the use of either cylinder or surface wave testing to determine the seismic modulus of field-constructed LSS. It is written in a manner that allows CDOT personnel to implement the proposed approach

• Record URL:
  • http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/research/pdfs/2013/lss.pdf/at_download/file
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/research/pdfs/2013/lss.pdf/view
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado School of Mines

  1500 Illinois Street
  Golden, CO  United States  80401

  Colorado Department of Transportation

  DTD Applied Research and Innovation Branch
  4201 E Arkansas Avenue
  Denver, CO  United States  80222

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mooney, Michael A
  • Bearce, Richard G
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 108p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Elastic waves; Feasibility analysis; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Modulus of elasticity; Quality assurance; Seismicity; Soil lime mixtures; Soil stabilization; Test procedures
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01499956
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CDOT-2013-15
• Contract Numbers: 80.30
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 25 2013 10:00AM