Abstract

A relatively new method used to reduce the amount of cement-treated base (CTB) shrinkage cracking is microcracking of the CTB shortly after construction. Three portable instruments used in this study for monitoring the microcracking process include the heavy Clegg impact soil tester (CIST), portable falling-weight deflectometer (PFWD), and soil stiffness gauge (SSG). The specific objectives of this research were 1) to evaluate the sensitivity of each of the three portable instruments to microcracking, and 2) to compare measurements of CTB stiffness reduction obtained using the three devices. The test locations included in this study were Redwood Drive and Dale Avenue in Salt Lake City, Utah; 300 South in Spanish Fork, Utah; and a private access road in Wyoming. Experimental testing in the field consisted of randomized stationing at each site; sampling the CTB immediately after the cement was mixed into the reclaimed base material; compacting specimens for laboratory testing; and testing the CTB immediately after construction, immediately before microcracking, immediately after each pass of the vibratory roller during the microcracking process, and, in some instances, three days after microcracking. Several linear regression analyses were performed after data were collected using the CIST, PFWD, and SSG during the microcracking process to meet the objectives of this research. Results from the statistical analyses designed to evaluate the sensitivity of each of the three portable instruments to microcracking indicate that the PFWD and SSG are sensitive to microcracking, while the CIST is insensitive to microcracking. Results from the statistical analyses designed to compare measurements of CTB stiffness reduction demonstrate that neither of the instrument correlations involving the CIST are statistically significant. Only the correlation between the PFWD and SSG was shown to be statistically significant. Given the results of this research, engineers and contractors should utilize the PFWD or SSG for monitoring microcracking of CTB layers. The heavy CIST is unsuitable for monitoring microcracking and should not be used. For deriving target CTB stiffness reductions measured using either the PFWD or SSG from specified targets measured using the other, engineers and contractors should utilize the correlation chart developed in this research.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Civil and Environmental Engineering

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