Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
(OP)
Hi
Can any of the rock hounds out there help me with this one, can an argillaceous rock be classified as Class 1 granular material for use in UK highway construction.
In it's as dug state this material is soft/medium rock known locally as shillet sic. but when crushed and exposed to rain becomes quite plastic and ruts under traffic.
When rubbed between the fingers leaves a talc like sheen on the skin.
Also when crushed does not se3em to contain any sands, gravels or other types of rock.
Thanks for reading this
Doolittle2
Can any of the rock hounds out there help me with this one, can an argillaceous rock be classified as Class 1 granular material for use in UK highway construction.
In it's as dug state this material is soft/medium rock known locally as shillet sic. but when crushed and exposed to rain becomes quite plastic and ruts under traffic.
When rubbed between the fingers leaves a talc like sheen on the skin.
Also when crushed does not se3em to contain any sands, gravels or other types of rock.
Thanks for reading this
Doolittle2





RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
I think you need some laboratory testing to classify the material accordingly. If you are in Cornwall, you could try a locally based geotechnial firm to see if thier labs will do materials testing like,,,,,mine!
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
You sound one clued up s**tkicker, you're spot on, I am working in Cornwall (just) but my problem is with geo-tech opinion at the moment or, to be fair, my problem is with my head, which I cannot get to accept that whatever the in-situ or as dug state of a material is, if it turns to Kak after a bit of rain and construction traffic and feels as slippery as a you know what after a good session how can it be classed as granular which, as you know the Class 1s are.
Is it me, the spec or the classifiers who have it wrong.
doolittle2
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
Sounds to me like it's best classified as an expansive shale. Tricky.
Jeff
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
Good Luck - incidentially, 'only just in Cornwall'?? now I'm curious. Where are you working?
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
As mentioned by soiledup you will need some PSDs to properly classify the material to the highway spec. Experience would suggest that the weathered shillet material usually falls into a Classes 2A-2D 'cohesive material'. I'd suggest PSDs and MCs/Atterbergs on the material to fully classify it for a method specification.
RE: Classification of soils for use in Highway Construction
Thanks for the info re Highways Agency contracts and their use of this material I'll have to take a look see at those locations especially as one of them is only just in Cornwall.
Soiledup your advice on in-situ testing is valable as is yours
SiteMonkey on the need to accurately classify the material prior to use within the works my only query is, with variable material presumably the testing regime for classification should be an ongoing programme?
regards
Doolittle2