EVALUATION OF STABILIZED BASE DURABILITY USING A MODIFIED SOUTH AFRICAN WHEEL TRACKING DEVICE. INTERIM REPORT

This study was initiated to investigate the durability of the cement treated base (CTB) material used extensively by the Houston District. A literature review concluded that the most realistic durability test is the Rolling Wheel Tracker developed by the South Africans. Typical Houston CTBs were tested with this wheel tracker, and the testing procedure was modified so that both linear shrinkage and unconfined compressive strength could also be measured on the same test specimen. Testing included field samples from SH 36 near Rosenburg, Texas, which had exhibited extensive deterioration after only a few years in service. Tests were also performed at 3 stabilizer contents, on laboratory molded samples of two aggregates. The first was a high quality limestone material with very low PI < 2. The second was a poor material with clay contaminated fines PI = 7.4 (still within TxDOT specifications). From this study it was concluded that: (a) lack of abrasion resistance was not the principal cause of the failure of SH 36 (see companion report 2919-2 on chemical deterioration); (b) with good aggregates the lower stabilizer content (4%) produced a material which was capable of meeting TxDOT strength requirements and also had acceptable shrinkage and durability characteristics; and (c) the CTB containing high PI fines exhibited high shrinkage. It is anticipated that this material would crack extensively in the field. The modified South African Wheel Tracking Device shows good potential for determining performance related material characteristics which can be used to establish the optimum stabilizer content for any possible base material.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Spall Repair, Base and Subgrade Stabilization, and Nondestructive Test (NDT) Service for the Houston District, Phase II.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

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

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Transfer Office, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5051
• Authors:
  • Van Blerk, P G
  • Scullion, T
• Publication Date: 1995-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 88 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abrasion resistance; Base course (Pavements); Cement treated soils; Compressive strength; Durability; Fines (Materials); Limestone aggregates; Plasticity index; Shrinkage; Stabilizers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cement treated bases; Wheel tracking devices
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I36: Aggregates;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00724973
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TX-96/2919-1, Res Rept 2919-1, TTI: 7-2919
• Contract Numbers: Study 7-2919
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 1996 12:00AM