New Approach for Upgrading Gravel Roads to a Low-Volume Sealed Standard Based on the Use of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

作者：Pinard Michael I^*; Paige Green Philip; Hongve Jon; Mukandila Estime

来源：Transportation Research Record, 2015, 2473(2473): 136-143.

DOI：10.3141/2473-16

Over the years, and under traffic loading and wetting and drying cycles, unpaved roads achieve a significant degree of compaction. Sustainable upgrading of these roads to a paved standard is best accomplished by making use of in situ conditions to provide a sound foundation for the new road. This usually reduces the need to import large quantities of virgin material. The dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) device can be used to quickly and cheaply assess the in situ conditions, including material quality and moisture regimes at selected test positions, as well as to determine the suitability of imported materials for incorporation into the new road pavement. The information obtained from the in situ testing can then be used to identify uniform sections along the road alignment. By comparing the in situ layer strength profiles of each of these uniform sections with the required design strength profiles for a particular design loading, the required layer needs for the new pavement can be determined. The paper describes the use of the DCP for the environmentally optimized design of low-volume roads, including the manner of characterizing the in situ road conditions and the selection and specification of borrow pit materials. The use of the DCP for compaction quality control is outlined. Data from various road sections in several countries in southern Africa are used to support the approach.

• 出版日期2015