THERMAL ACTIVITY OF BASE COURSE MATERIAL RELATED TO PAVEMENT CRACKING

An initial computer study using a heat transfer program showed that freeze-thaw activity during a winter, for Perryton, Texas, was centered mainly in the base course for a typical pavement. Comprehensive freeze-thaw testing showed the base course to be more active, thermally, than asphaltic concrete. The thermal activity is composed of a freeze deformation and a residual deformation. Both quantities are related to the soil moisture suction of the material. The soil moisture suction which develops in a sample is a function of the grain size, moisture, pore structure and clay mineralogy. Clay mineralogy determinations were done using x-ray diffraction to obtain the relative percentages of the clay minerals present. A direct relationship is established between the freeze deformation and clay mineralogy of the material tested. The data also demonstrate the validity of using clay mineralogy properties as a design quantity for base course material.

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/tti/18-2.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/83631
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Texas State Dept. of Highways and Public Transportation, Austin.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763
• Authors:
  • Carpenter, S H
  • Lytton, R L
• Publication Date: 1975-12

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 128 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay minerals; Cold weather; Concrete; Design; Diffraction; Durability; Field tests; Flexible pavements; Fracture mechanics; Freezing; Heat transfer; Highways; Operations; Pavement base course; Pavement cracking; Properties of materials; Soils; Testing; Thermal properties; Thermal stability; X rays
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil properties; X-ray diffraction
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00137323
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: TTI-2-8-73-18-2 Res. Rpt., FHWA/RD-S0478
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 16 1977 12:00AM