ASPHALT MEMBRANE PROJECT AT ELK SPRINGS, COLORADO

The Elk Springs experimental project consists of 15 test sections designed to determine thickness requirements for four full depth asphalt bases. Testing was discontinued in 1975 after almost seven years of traffic. Cracks in the roadway allowed moisture to enter the subgrade and weaken it to the point where all sections with less than 9 inches (23 cm) of deep strength asphalt failed. Asphalt membranes were tried through the borrow ditches also, but they did not prevent moisture migration into the subgrade as it was hoped they would. An asphalt membrane envelope did not work well because of the failure of the membrane to remain waterproof. This report includes conclusions and recommendations for construction and maintenance of highways on swelling soils, and suggests a workshop-demonstration project as a means for acquainting design, maintenance, and construction engineers of the pitfalls in highway construction over swelling soils.

• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado Department of Highways

  4201 East Arkansas Avenue
  Denver, CO  United States  80222

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Swanson, H N
  • Gerhardt, B B
• Publication Date: 1975-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 47 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Asphalt pavements; Base course (Pavements); Cracking; Flexible pavements; Full-depth asphalt pavements; Moisture content; Pavement cracking; Pavements; Subgrade (Pavements); Swelling soils; Thickness; Trafficability
• Uncontrolled Terms: Membranes; Pavement thickness
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Old TRIS Terms: Membranes (Biology)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00143030
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CDOH-P/R-R/SS-75-4 Final Rpt., FHWA-CO-R/SS-75/4
• Contract Numbers: 75-4
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 6 1976 12:00AM