Flexible pavement drainage monitoring, performance and stability

Aiwen Feng, Purdue University

Abstract

Pavement subsurface drainage is increasingly included in pavement designs. Typically, the subdrainage components consist of a drainage layer, edge collection system and outlet. Questions have developed relative to use of bound and unbound aggregate in the drainage layers as well as drainage layer location within the section. The current study is a continuation of the study HPR-2078, “Locating the Drainage Layer for Flexible Pavements”. In this previous study, three test sections were constructed in a new pavement on a by-pass around Fort Wayne Indiana. These test sections were instrumented to record temperatures, moisture, frost penetration, rainfall and subdrainage system outflow. Collected data and Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis indicate the systems are performing satisfactorily. However, concern developed over the stability and rutting characteristics of the open-graded drainage layers. As a continuation study, longer term environmental and subdrainage performance data was collected. Additional data was collected from FWD tests, condition surveys, roughness measurements. Laboratory triaxial tests were also conducted on all asphalt mixtures, unbound aggregate materials and subgrades. Tests of asphalt mixtures were conducted at two loading speeds and both wet and dry. Asphalt mixture tests were conducted at the recorded 7-day high field temperature. These data were used in FEM analysis of the stability and rutting characteristics of the test sections. The three subdrainage systems continue to be effective. There is no change in the ranking of performance. Section 1 (open-graded asphalt drainage layer) continues to drain significantly faster than section 2 and 3 (open-graded aggregate layer). Water infiltration through the surface has decreased. The pavement sections are in excellent condition in terms of cracking and rutting.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

White, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Civil engineering|Mechanical engineering|Mechanics

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