CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPANSIVE CLAY ROUGHNESS OF PAVEMENTS. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Pavement roughness was measured on pavements adjacent to the gilgai fields and on other pavement sections by the GM profilometer. Digital magnetic tapes of the profilometer data are analyzed by a series of digital filters especially designed for expansive clay wavelengths. Statistical data on the wavelengths and amplitudes of these expansive clay roughness patterns are determined and compared with those measured in the gilgai fields where these patterns have not been tampered with. The riding characteristics of these pavements as measured by the Mays meter are analyzed with a computerized model of a vehicle that is programmed to accept GM profilometer data. Dynamic load factors for the actual pavements are determined. Equations are presented that give Mays meter readings and dynamic load factors for any combination of expansive clay wavelengths and amplitudes. The effect of the dynamic load on reducing the service life of the pavement is discussed, and methods of predicting level-up and overlay quantities from the characteristics of expansive clay roughness are given.

published proceedings

  • Transportation Research Record

author list (cited authors)

  • Lytton, R. L., Boggess, R. L., & Spotts, J. W.

complete list of authors

  • Lytton, RL||Boggess, RL||Spotts, JW

publication date

  • January 1976