Design, Construction and Performance Monitoring of Stabilization of Expansive Soils and Cement
Many areas in Texas have problems stabilizing expansive soils with traditional stabilizers (i.e. lime, cement, fly ash, or in combination) because of the high levels of sulfates in the soil. Many major pavement failures have occurred due to lime/cement induced sulfate heaves. In addition, reflection cracks from cement treated bases have been reported in numerous projects. Expansive soils have caused extensive pavement heaves, bumps and longitudinal cracks. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is actively looking for alternatives to stabilize expansive soils and cement treated bases with polypropylene fiber. There is a critical need to incorporate fiber in TxDOT's Modification and Stabilization of Soils and Base for Use in Pavement Structures guidelines. This project aims to develop appropriate laboratory test methods to evaluate mix designs for (1) fiber reinforced cement treated base, (2) fiber reinforced clay, and (3) fiber reinforced sandy soil. In addition, researchers will provide assistance to TxDOT Districts to develop optimum fiber application rates and establish specifications and construction quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) plans for uniform mixing. They will conduct laboratory tests to determine optimum fiber application rates for cement treated base and 6 different subgrade soils. One key issue that Researchers will address in this study is an evaluation of the mix technologies that ensure fibers are mixed uniformly in the field. Researchers will use the Wirtgen Reclaimer as the initial device for mixing fibers into the material being stabilized. Researchers will progress to other common construction equipment and processes to achieve the optimum mixing results. This study will investigate innovative Nondestructive Testing (NDT) tools to (1) assist site characterization, (2) select candidate test sections, (3) identify sampling locations, (4) provide input on mix design process, (5) provide Input during QC/QA process, and (6) monitor field performance of the test section. Researchers will document the optimal construction techniques and identify time and cost savings.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $2,095,913
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Contract Numbers:
0-7006
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Sponsor Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Managing Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Project Managers:
Adediwura, Jade
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Performing Organizations:
Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX United States 77843-3135 -
Principal Investigators:
Chen, Dar-Hao
- Start Date: 20190424
- Expected Completion Date: 20250831
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Fiber reinforced polymers; Laboratory tests; Soil stabilization; Subgrade materials; Swelling soils
- Identifier Terms: Texas Department of Transportation
- Geographic Terms: Texas
- Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01712943
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 0-7006
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jul 29 2019 5:21PM