EMBANKMENT QUALITY: PHASE II

Phase II research included the following: (1) develop and evaluate alternative soil design and embankment construction specifications based on soil type, moisture, density, stability, and compaction process; (2) assess various quality control and acceptance procedures with a variety of in-situ test methods including the Dual-mass Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP); and (3) develop and design rapid field soil identification methods. At the start of the research, soils were divided into cohesive and cohesionless soil types, with each category being addressed separately. Cohesionless soils were designated as having less than 36% fines content (material passing the No. 200 sieve) and cohesive soils as having greater than 36% fines content. Subsequently, soil categories were refined based not only on fines content but soil plasticity as well. Research activities included observations of fill placement, in-place moisture and density testing, and dual-mass DCP index testing on several highway embankment projects throughout Iowa. Experiments involving rubber-tired and vibratory compaction, lift thickness changes, and disk aeration were carried out for the full range of Iowa soils. By testing for soil stability the DCP was found to be a valuable field tool for quality control, whereby shortcomings from density testing (density gradients) were avoided. Furthermore, critical DCP index values were established based on soil type and compaction moisture content.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/reports/embankii.pdf
• Record URL:
  http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/17190
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering
  Town Engineering Building
  Ames, IA  United States  50011-3232

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  Materials Department, 800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Bergeson, K
  • Jahren, C
• Publication Date: 1999-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 95 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance tests; Cohesive soils; Cone penetrometers; Construction; Density; Embankments; Field tests; Fines (Materials); Granular soils; Moisture content; Plasticity; Quality control; Soil compaction; Soil tests; Specifications
• Geographic Terms: Iowa
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; I51: Earthworks and Soil Drainage;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00800195
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Report/Paper Numbers: TR-401,, Final Report
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 13 2000 12:00AM