DOI

10.5703/1288284313286

Abstract

The objective of this project was to assess the environmental and geotechnical performance of two highway embankments constructed using coal combustion fly ash. The environmental work focused on characterizing monitoring well water samples from the site before, during, and after construction. In addition, a number in in-situ lysimeter water samples were also tested during and after construction. In each case, water samplers were evaluated in terms of their constitutive organic and metal concentrations, as well as their relative bioassay response using a MicrotoxTM protocol. The geotechnical work included monitoring of ash water content and unit weight during placement, settlement analysis, and in-situ testing of the completed ash fills using the Standard Penetration Test. Analysis of the groundwater and lysimeter water samples indicated that the coal ash had not adversely affected the environmental quality of the 56th Street overpass site. The embankments also performed well from a getenchnical perspective both during and after construction. The only difficulty was the measurement of coal ash water content and unti weight using the nuclear density gauge. The benefits of reusing coal combustion fly ash for highway construction are: i) low-cost source material for INDOT, ii) reduced disposal costs for Indiana utilities, and iii) savings of Indiana landfill capacity.

Report Number

FHWA/IN/JHRP-96/05

Keywords

coal ash, embankment, environmental impact, geotechnical performance, SPR-2122

SPR Number

2122

Project Number

SPR-2122

File Number

6-14-25

Performing Organization

Joint Highway Research Project

Publisher Place

West Lafayette, IN

Date of this Version

1996

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