Principal Investigator(s):
Vaughan Voller, Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Co-Investigators:
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Bjorn Birgisson, Dean, Engineering & Applied Science, N/A
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David Newcomb, Former University Researcher, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Project summary:
Knowledge of the in-situ drainage characteristics of pavement base and coarse subgrade materials at an early stage of the design process, allows the pavement designer to avoid many design-related problems. The use of a device to measure the in-situ drainability of base and subgrade materials during construction would help ensure that base and subgrade layers are capable of removing infiltrated water from the pavement system at a rate adequate to prevent accelerated pavement deterioration. The results of this project will include: 1) a user's manual for two devices that can be used for measuring the in-situ drainage characteristics of aggregate base and granular subgrade materials, 2) recommendations regarding "action limits" on the drainability characteristics of the aggregate base, granular, and select granular materials used by MnDOT, 3) computerized database of the in-situ drainage characteristics of the various base and granular subgrade materials used by MnDOT.