CALIFORNIA'S LEAN CONCRETE BASE

In an effort to construct a base more economically and easier to build and providing greater puming resistance than cement treated base, 4 miles of 50 foot wide lean concrete base (LCB) were constructed on a freeway section on State Route 91. The gradation of Class 3 Aggregate Base which required a 1-1/2 inch maximum size gradation was used. The aggregate was manufactured by a combination crusher-screening process. An air-entraining additive was being used to obtain 3-1/2 percent air readings. Lean Concrete Base was hauled to the construction site in "belly dumps" carrying 12 to 16 cubic yard loads and dumped on the grade ahead of the paving machine. A large front-end loader was used to spread the material, and a specially modified paver was used to place the 50-foot wide section in one pass. Details are given of vibrators, curing compound, and core strengths. Reports indicate that the lean concrete based provided an excellent working platform for paving operations. This change to lean concrete base eliminated rolling and trimming operations, and increased the production rate.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • McDonald, A R
• Publication Date: 1976-4

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 37-45
• Serial:
  • Highway Focus
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Air entraining agents; Base course (Pavements); Construction; Costs; Lean concrete; Paving
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Lean mix concrete
• Subject Areas: Construction; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149791
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM