Improving the Foundation Layers for Concrete Pavements

Research in Progress

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Improving the Foundation Layers for Concrete Pavements http://www.pooledfund.org/Details/Study/408 Record Type: RiP Quality pavement foundation layers are essential to achieving excellent pavement performance. In recent years as truck traffic has greatly increased, the foundation layers have become even more critical to successful pavement performance. Unfortunately, there are still many pavement failures in the U.S. related to inadequate subbase, natural subgrade, and embankment (commonly referred to as foundation layers or roadbed). Factors that contribute to pavement foundation problems are believed to be poor construction practices, ineffective quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) testing methods and sampling plans, material variability and unpredictable long-term material behavior, poor verification of material properties during construction, insufficient development of performance-related specifications, and low capital investment in the foundation layers. The objective of this research is to improve the construction methods, economic analysis and selection of materials, in-situ testing and evaluation, and development of performance-related specifications for the pavement foundation layers. The outcome of this study will be conclusive findings that make pavement foundations more durable, uniform, constructible, and economical. Although the focus of this research will be portland cement concrete (PCC) concrete pavement foundations, the results will likely have applicability to asphalt cement concrete (ACC) pavement foundations and, potentially, unpaved roads. All aspects of the foundation layers will be investigated including thickness, material properties, permeability, modulus/stiffness, strength, volumetric stability and durability. Start date: 2009/3/16 End date: 2014/3/15 Status: Programmed Secondary Number: TPF-5(183) Total Dollars: 875000 Source Organization: Federal Highway Administration Date Added: 03/02/2012 Index Terms: Portland cement concrete, Concrete pavements, Foundations, Subbase (Pavements), Pavement performance, Paving, Pavement thickness, Permeability, Durability,

Sponsor Organization		Project Manager
Federal Highway Administration http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 USA Phone: (202) 366-4000 Colorado Department of Transportation http://www.dot.state.co.us/research 4201 East Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 USA California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) http://www.dot.ca.gov/ 1227 O Street P.O. Box 942873 Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 USA Phone: (916) 657-4721 Iowa Department of Transportation 800 Lincoln Way Ames, IA 50010 USA Phone: (515) 239-1205 Fax: (515) 239-1766 Michigan Department of Transportation http://www.michigan.gov/mdot Murray Van Wagoner Building 425 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30050 Lansing, MI 48909 USA Phone: (517) 241-2780 Fax: (517) 335-2785 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation http://www.dot.state.pa.us/ Keystone Building 400 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120 USA Phone: (717) 787-5796 Fax: (717) 783-9152 Wisconsin Department of Transportation http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov 4802 Sheboygan Avenue Madison, WI 53707 USA Phone: (608) 267-6977		Narigon, Linda Phone: (515) 239-1471 Email: Linda.Narigon@dot.iowa.gov

Performing Organization		Principal Investigator
		Cackler, Tom Email: tcackler@iastate.edu White, David J. Phone: (515) 294-1463 Email: djwhite@iastate.edu Vennapusa, Pavana Email: pavanv@iastate.edu Dawson, Andrew Email: Andrew.Dawson@nottingham.ac.uk Roesler, Jeff Email: jroesler@uiuc.edu Miller, Kelly Email: millerdk@iastate.edu

Subjects
Highways Construction Pavements