A CASE STUDY OF PERFORMANCE OF PAVEMENTS ON AN EXPANSIVE SOIL SUBGRADE

Several problems encountered with pavements on expansive soils in Queensland led in 1968 to the construction of seven experimental pavements on a lightly trafficked road on expansive soil subgrade at MacAlister on the Darling Downs, an area where these problems have been particularly acute. The objectives of the ensuing performance study were to investigate the effects of pavement configuration and moisture conditions on the performance of these pavements. The influence of varying pavement thickness and paved shoulder width were of particular interest. Since 1969, the performance of the pavements has been monitored by periodic visual assessments and measurements of pavement deflection and subgrade moisture changes. The paper summarizes the findings of the performance of the pavements over a twelve year period. It is shown that the pavement stiffness within the central region of the pavements has remained essentially constant. However, edge effects are quite substantial with loss in stiffness evident up to two metres from the seal edge. Based on the available evidence, a performance model for lightly trafficked roads in similar areas is proposed. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0858252198
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Expansive Soils, Adelaide, South Australia, 21-23 May, 1984.
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Engineers

  11 National Circuit
  Barton, A.C.T.,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • GORDON, R G
  • WATERS, T J
• Conference:
  • Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Expansive Soils, Adelaide, South Australia, 21-23 May, 1984.
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 263-269
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 84/3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: California bearing ratio; Case studies; Conferences; Deflection; Durability; Evaluation and assessment; Experimental roads; Moisture content; Paved shoulders; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Pavements; Soil water; Stiffness; Strength of materials; Subgrade (Pavements); Swelling soils; Thickness; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Change; Pavement thickness
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement deflection; Subgrade moisture
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 3087: California bearing ratio; 8525: Conference; 5586: Deflection; 5910: Durability; 5509: Edge effect; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 2778: Experimental road; 5920: Moisture content; 2955: Pavement; 3055: Pavement design; 2950: Subgrade; 5203: Swelling (soil)
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389706
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0-85825-219-8
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM