A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Prediction of Moisture Degradation in Enzyme-Stabilized Unsealed Road Pavements
Abstract Unsealed road infrastructure makes up about two-thirds of the multi-billion dollar asset, playing an important role in transportation, and it is vital in countries development. Its importance is further highlighted by the many kilometres of roads worldwide. These roads are inherently exposed to external loading from increased recurring traffic and geohazards, which can lead to failures, posing great safety concerns. Failures can further be triggered by moisture degradation when unsealed roads are constructed with reactive soils. Soil stabilization has been widely identified as a cost effective solution for pavement degradation in several past research studies. Road pavement materials are partially saturated during their service life, and exhibit distinct volume and strength changes as a result. A change in the degree of saturation can cause significant shrink and swell deformations, and shear strength changes. However, the current assessment and design of road pavements using established standards assume linear material response to static loading and two-dimensional geometric idealization with no provisions on subgrade moisture fluctuations. The current research investigates the effect of moisture degradation in stabilized unsealed road pavements using laboratory experiments and numerical modelling. Firstly, a series of mechanical tests were conducted to assess the volume change and strength behaviour of stabilized soil. Then finite element analyses were performed to investigate the performance of road pavements subjected to changes in the degree of saturation. Preliminary results showed that the stabilized road pavements using bio-enzymatic additives are effective in reducing the road deformations and the developed models are capable of capturing realistic swelling/shrinkage of road pavement under operational and environmental loads. The study revealed the importance of adopting non-linear material characterization and modelling for realistic assessment of soil stabilization when exposed to moisture damage.
Prediction of Moisture Degradation in Enzyme-Stabilized Unsealed Road Pavements
Abstract Unsealed road infrastructure makes up about two-thirds of the multi-billion dollar asset, playing an important role in transportation, and it is vital in countries development. Its importance is further highlighted by the many kilometres of roads worldwide. These roads are inherently exposed to external loading from increased recurring traffic and geohazards, which can lead to failures, posing great safety concerns. Failures can further be triggered by moisture degradation when unsealed roads are constructed with reactive soils. Soil stabilization has been widely identified as a cost effective solution for pavement degradation in several past research studies. Road pavement materials are partially saturated during their service life, and exhibit distinct volume and strength changes as a result. A change in the degree of saturation can cause significant shrink and swell deformations, and shear strength changes. However, the current assessment and design of road pavements using established standards assume linear material response to static loading and two-dimensional geometric idealization with no provisions on subgrade moisture fluctuations. The current research investigates the effect of moisture degradation in stabilized unsealed road pavements using laboratory experiments and numerical modelling. Firstly, a series of mechanical tests were conducted to assess the volume change and strength behaviour of stabilized soil. Then finite element analyses were performed to investigate the performance of road pavements subjected to changes in the degree of saturation. Preliminary results showed that the stabilized road pavements using bio-enzymatic additives are effective in reducing the road deformations and the developed models are capable of capturing realistic swelling/shrinkage of road pavement under operational and environmental loads. The study revealed the importance of adopting non-linear material characterization and modelling for realistic assessment of soil stabilization when exposed to moisture damage.
Prediction of Moisture Degradation in Enzyme-Stabilized Unsealed Road Pavements
Singh, J. (author) / Robert, D. (author) / Giustozzi, F. (author) / Setunge, S. (author) / O’Donnell, B. (author)
2019-09-04
12 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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