UNSEALED ROADS

Kathmandu, 2 June 2018

Prof Phil Paige-Green

Paige-Green Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Tshwane University of Technology
 UNSEALED ROADS

REQUIREMENTS OF UNSEALED ROADS

• Provide a smooth and safe ride with minimal maintenance

• Stability – resistance to deformation
• Shed water without erosion or scouring
• Resist traffic abrasion
• Freedom from dust
• Not become slippery when wet but not wear tyres
• Low cost and ease of maintenance
• Equally valid for shoulders of paved roads
 UNSEALED ROADS

REQUIREMENTS OF UNSEALED ROADS

• Achieve this through good material specifications and

selection

• Also good construction and maintenance

 UNSEALED ROADS

Performance-related specifications were developed in the late

1980s

• Based on sampling, testing and monitoring of 110 road sections

(each 300 m long) for more than 3 years
• Monitoring
• About every 3 weeks
• Roughness/riding quality
• Full visual
• Every 3 months
• Gravel loss by precise levelling surveys
• More than 250 000 km covered
© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
 UNSEALED ROADS

SAMPLING AND TESTING

•Samples from each end of section

•Standard SA test methods (= ASTM)
• Grading
• Atterberg Limits
• Compaction characteristics (Mod)
• California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

•Specifications applicable after placement

and compaction
 UNSEALED ROADS

Performance-related specifications

• All data entered into a data base

• Average performance for each section using a weighted model
was plotted against various material properties
• Eventually a trend was obtained

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

 UNSEALED ROADS

Performance-related specifications were developed in the late

1980s
• Based on sampling, testing and monitoring of 110 road sections
for more than 3 years

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

 UNSEALED ROADS
Specification for rural roads
Maximum size 37.5 mm
Max oversize index 5%
Shrinkage product (SP) 100 – 365 (240)
Grading coefficient (Gc) 16 – 34
Min CBR (%) 15 at 95% Mod AASHTO
Treton Impact value (%) 20 - 65

Sp – Weighted bar linear shrinkage (BLS * P0.425).

Gc – (P26.5 – P2)*P4.75/100

Page 10 © CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

 D
Slippery
365

Shrinkage A E C

product Erodible Good Ravels

100
B
Ravels and corrugates
0
0 16 34
Grading coefficient
© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
 UNSEALED ROADS

Material strength

• CBR 15% is plenty

• No shear under 88 kN axle even when soaked
 UNSEALED ROADS

Material Improvement - blending

• Mixing one or more materials – usually two

• Improve grading, plasticity or strength
• Slower deterioration (roughness and gravel loss) result from
getting the GC and SP right
• Care required when modifying plasticity
• Do not cause kinks in grading curve
© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za
 POOR UNSEALED ROADS
• Unsuitable materials
• Insufficient processing
• Poor construction
• Poor shape/maintenance
UNSEALED ROADS IN SOUTH AFRICA NOW

• Improved materials -specification

• Improved processing/oversize removal
• Improved construction –compaction/shaping
• Programmed maintenance

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

UNSEALED ROADS IN SOUTH AFRICA NOW

© CSIR 2006 www.csir.co.za

 RESULT (No maintenance)
Slow Roughness Deterioration
AADT = 66, 17% heavy

(No Maintenance section)

MR270: km32 - 32.5: Roughness Deterioration (Model vs. Actual)

300

250
Riding Quality (QI)

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Years since construction

August 5, 2018
HDM4 - No blading Actual QI TRH20: No Blading
 AADT = 323, 19% heavy
RESULT (Light blading)
Slow Roughness Deterioration >500 in 2008

(Bladed section)

MR276: km1.8 - 2.3: Roughness Deterioration (Model vs. Actual)

250.0000

200.0000
Riding Quality (QI)

150.0000

100.0000

50.0000

0.0000
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Years since construction

HDM4-Predict TRH20 Predict Actual QI

 UNSEALED ROADS STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Traffic
2- 6 21 - 60
Layer, depth
≤ 2 heavy heavy 7 - 20 heavy heavy
and/or structural
vehicles per vehicles vehicles vehicles per
number
day per day per day day
DN (mm/blow)

Formation or upper
150 mm (≥95% heavy
compaction) 25 19 14 14
In situ (Rip and
recompact) 150 -
300 mm (≥95% heavy
compaction) 33 25 19 14
300 -450 mm 50 33 25 19
450 - 600 mm 50 50 33 25
600 - 800 mm 50 50 50 33
DSN800 21 25 33 41
UNSEALED ROADS STRUCTURAL DESIGN

DN (mm/blow)
10 100
0
100
200
Depth (mm)

300
400
500
600
700
800

≤ 2 heavy vehicles per day 2 - 6 heavy vehicles per day

6 - 20 heavy vehicles per day 20 - 60 heavy vehicles per day
UNSEALED ROADS STRUCTURAL DESIGN

PROCEDURE

• Carry out DCP survey

• Process data and determine uniform sections
• Compare in situ condition with with appropriate LSD
• Process or add layers where necessary
• Import specification wearing course
• As heavy compaction as possible
• Ensure proper shape (5% camber)
“Happy gravel road building”

Thank you

Questions. ??