PREDICTION OF ROADWAY STRENGTH FROM SOIL PROPERTIES

An intensive performance study of 120 Alaskan asphalt paved roadway sections was completed in 1980. Roadway bearing strengths were measured weekly on each section during the period of thaw-weakening by use of a Benkleman Beam type test procedure. Soil properties and layer thicknesses were evaluated by use of test pit sampling. This study, which included sections from the different climatic regions of Alaska, has indicated certain soil particle sizes to be the most critical factors in crack-free performance and resistance to spring thaw-weakening. The data acquired in the performance study have provided a basis for the development of a new method of pavement design, which predicts the maximum seasonal or design deflection level from the -#200 sieve particle size contents of the different granular soil layers beneath the asphalt pavement. Required pavement thicknesses for the predicted traffic and design deflection levels are then determined by a previously developed overlay design procedure. This method is demonstrated to be more reliable than previous designs based on the frost susceptibility classification of the pavement layers.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_82_06.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701
• Authors:
  • Esch, D C
  • McMattie, R L
• Publication Date: 1982

Media Info

• Pagination: 18 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Bearing capacity; Benkelman beam; Deflection; Design methods; Flexible pavements; Forecasting; Grain size (Geology); Pavement design; Pavement layers; Pavements; Performance evaluations; Properties of materials; Soils; Thaw; Thickness
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil properties; Spring breakup
• Geographic Terms: Alaska
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement deflection
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488127
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-82-06
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1989 12:00AM