Base Stabilization Road Construction Guide
Equipping you to apply soil stabilization and modification treatments with confidence & success.
Pre-Construction Testing
| Evaluation of Existing Pavement Structure | For reconstruction, if pavement distress suggest weak subgrade or if traffic levels are forecast to increase, check strength of base and subgrade layers with Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) or Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) | Recommended |
| Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) | For reconstruction verify thickness consistency of existing asphalt and granular layers | Optional |
| Pavement Sampling | For reconstruction obtain materials for mix design and verify thickness of pavement layers | Required |
| Stockpile Samplind | For new construction obtain samples of aggregates for mix design | Required |
| Mix Design | Conduct mix design for bituminous or cementitious stabilization in accordance with FDR201 or FDR202, respectfully | Required |
Construction Testing
|
Test |
Description |
Bituminous Stabilization |
Chemical Stabilization |
|
Asphalt for Foaming |
Supplier generated COA or laboratory testing to comply with mix design parameters |
Recommended |
N/A |
|
Emulsified Asphalt |
Supplier generated COA or laboratory testing to comply with mix design parameters |
Recommended |
N/A |
|
Cement, CKD, Self-Cementing Class C Fly Ash, Lime and LKD |
Supplier generated COA |
Recommended (if applied as an additive) |
Recommended |
|
Asphalt Temperature for Foaming |
Probe or infrared temperature gun |
Required |
N/A |
|
Asphalt Foaming Properties |
Expansion Ratio and Half-life |
Required |
N/A |
|
Emulsified Asphalt |
Visual sieve test on site |
Recommended |
N/A |
|
Emulsified Asphalt Temperature |
Probe or infrared temperature gun |
Recommended |
N/A |
|
Bituminous Stabilizing Agent Injection Rate
|
Verify amount of stabilizing agent per mix design and accuracy of meter readings by volumetric distribution |
Required |
N/A |
|
Cement,CKD, Self-Cementing Class C Fly Ash, Lime or LKD Dry Spread Rate |
Volumetric distribution |
Required (if applied as an additive) |
Required |
|
Cement or Lime Slurry Application Rate |
Volumetric distribution |
Required (if applied as an additive) |
Required |
|
Cement or Lime Slurry Solids |
% solids by drying or hydrometer |
Recommended (if applied as an additive) |
Recommended |
|
Aggregate Gradation |
Supplier generated COA or laboratory analysis (AASHTO T 11 and T 27 or ASTM C117 and C136) |
Required |
Required |
|
Aggregate Physical Properties |
Supplier generated COA or laboratory analysis (AASHTO T 96, T 176 and T 85 or ASTM C131, D2419 and C127) |
Recommended |
Recommended |
|
Aggregate Addition Rate |
Volumetric distribution |
Required |
Required |
|
Ambient Temperature |
Any Owner Agency approved method |
Required |
Required |
|
Moisture Content of Stabilized Mixture |
AASHTO T 329 AASHTO T 265, ASTM D2216 or ASTM D4643 |
Required |
Required |
|
Stabilization Application and Mixing Time Constraints |
Timepiece |
N/A |
Required |
|
Depth of Stabilized Material |
Depth probe measurement |
Required |
Required |
|
Control Strip |
Nuclear gauge per AASHTO T 355 (ASTM D2950) or Owner Agency approved method |
Required |
Required |
|
Compaction Time Constraints |
Timepiece |
N/A |
Required |
|
Stabilized Material Compacted Density |
Nuclear gauge AASHTO T 355 (ASTM D2950) or Owner Agency approved method |
Required |
N/A |
|
Stabilized Material Compacted Density |
Nuclear gauge AASHTO T 310 (ASTM D6938) or Sand Cone AASHTO T 191 (ASTM D1556) |
N/A |
Required |
Post-Construction Testing
| Cross-Slope | 6 ft. (1.8 m) Smart level | Required |
| Mat Width | Tape measurement | Required |
|
Mat Moisture Content after Curing (Bituminous Stabilization Only) |
AASHTO T 329 or AASHTO T 265 (ASTM D2216 or ASTM D4643) | Required |
|
Surface Tolerance |
10 ft. (3 m) Straight edge | Recommended |
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