REPORT ON EARLY DISTRESS (RED): INVESTIGATION OF SHOULDER HEAVE PROBLEMS ON I-90, MONROE COUNTY (AND OTHER STATE HWYS)

A Report of Early Distress (RED) for heaved shoulders adjacent to Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) mainline pavement was received from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation District 5 staff in January of 2001. The asphalt shoulders had risen 2 in. (more than 2 in. in some areas) above the mainline concrete. In many areas, the shoulders match the mainline elevation, but rise significantly in the first 1 to 2 ft of shoulder. That 1 to 2 ft of shoulder is broken up with severe signs of distress (cracking). This condition has created maintenance problems associated with winter snow removal operations. It appears that for projects constructed with open graded base course, the probable root cause of the problem is differential frost heave due to dissimilar base materials under the shoulders. Unsealed longitudinal edge joints are likely exacerbating the problem. For projects constructed with dense graded base course, the probable root cause of the heaving is inconsistent/insufficient compaction efforts immediately adjacent to the mainline pavement. Again, unsealed longitudinal edge joints are likely exacerbating this condition. The primary recommendations made in this report are to route and seal the longitudinal edge joints for all new construction as well as existing pavements. For shoulders with severe distress in the form of cracking and breakup, consideration should be given to full or partial replacement of the shoulder.

• Record URL:
  http://wisdotresearch.wi.gov/wp-content/uploads/red-04-01heave.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Wisconsin Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Highway Construction, 3502 Kinsman Boulevard
  Madison, WI  United States  53704

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Wilson, J
  • Bohnsack, D
• Publication Date: 2001-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Photos;
• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Base course (Pavements); Compaction; Dense graded aggregates; Frost heaving; Joint sealing; Longitudinal joints; Open graded aggregates; Paved shoulders; Pavement cracking; Pavement distress; Recommendations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Longitudinal edge joints
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; Research; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00923408
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: RED-04-01,, Final Report
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 9 2002 12:00AM