Developed at the Texas Transportation Institute, “Design Methodology for Subgrades and Bases Under Concrete Roads” and “Parking Lots and Test Methods & Results of Erosion Potential of Commonly Used Subgrade and Base Materials” are the culmination of research on best practices for identifying potential erosion problems before pavement is placed, and avoiding costs in overdesigned subbases. The publications are the latest additions to the Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation library.
“Identifying and designing for potential problems, namely faulting—a primary mechanism of failure in pavements—gives designers the opportunity to provide a better end product and offers a means to represent our product to the marketplace in a stronger light,” says RMC Foundation Chairman Timothy Becken (Cemstone Products). “These resources allow designers to predict faulting to circumvent premature eroding of the subbase while optimizing the subbase and concrete sections. This saves money due to overdesign and gives owners the best value as they save money initially during the construction phase and have better performing pavements for minimal long-term maintenance.”
“These new reports are an excellent example of how the Foundation is helping to improve concrete as an application, benefitting everyone involved, especially the end users,” adds RMC Foundation Executive Director Julie Garbini.
Pavement professionals offered their guidance and expertise for the research and finished reports, which can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website, www.rmc-foundation.org, or can be obtained in CD or print versions.
| Modeling erosion potential includes factors already considered for other design distresses. |
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| Subbase erosion directly contributes to joint faulting, but hinges on a combination of the factors shown here. |