USE OF LONGITUDINAL SUBDRAINS IN THE 3R PROGRAM

The main consideration for base construction under the pavement, in the design of Iowa's interstate, was structural capacity. The material was dense graded with the aim of supporting the pavement and distributing the load as it is transferred to the underlying grade. The drainage characteristics of the base was apparently not given adequate consideration. On jointed portland cement concrete pavement, the water that is trapped immediately beneath the pavement causes severe problems. The traffic causes rapid movement of the water resulting in the hydraulic pressures or "pumping" (movement and redeposit of base fine material), further resulting in faulting between individual slabs. The objective of this evaluation is to determine if longitudinal subdrains are effective in preventing or reducing pumping, faulting and related deterioration. Results suggest that, based upon the flow from the outlets observed during periodic checks and evidence of water flow at the outlets, it appears that to date the subdrains are effective in draining the subbase and subgrade. Because of the limited data available at this time, however, the pavement condition and faulting results are inconclusive.

• Record URL:
  • http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/17290
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Progress Report for Project HR-509
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Marks, V J
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deterioration; Drainage; Faulting; Interstate highways; Pavement base course; Pavement pumping; Pavement subbase; Pavement subgrade; Portland cement concrete; Prevention; Subdrains
• Uncontrolled Terms: Longitudinal
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Pavements; Security and Emergencies; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00762417
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 1 1999 12:00AM