Use of nondestructive testing to establish mechanistic-based seasonal load-carrying capacity of thin-paved highways in Saskatchewan

摘要

It has long been known that increased load-carrying capacity during the winter months is very beneficial to rural road transportation in Saskatchewan. However, it has been observed that rapid weakening of thin-paved roads during spring thaw is highly detrimental to the load-carrying capacity of these roads. Direct measures of the structural integrity of Saskatchewan roads as a function of seasonal changes have not been quantified in the past. The objective of this study was to directly quantify the impact frost action has on the load-carrying capacity of thin-surfaced roads. This study examined the magnitude and rate of change of in situ structural deflection responses of a typical Saskatchewan thin-surfaced road during fall freeze-up and spring thaw in 2006-2007. This study showed that structural deflection responses significantly improved with frost depth greater than 50 cm and that deflection response significantly worsened with minimal thaw depth, as expected. The data obtained also indicated a significant increase in nonlinear strain weakening behavior during fall freeze-up at frost depths less than 50 cm. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, the frost thickness and the rate of change in frost thickness need to be directly considered in the fall and in the spring when calculating seasonal load limits of thin-paved roads.