Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
(OP)
I have a question and I'm hoping someone can provide some answers =) Thanks in advance!!
I am not an engineer of any sort, but do work in the construction field. Here is the problem I'm trying to solve:
We did a public works contract requiring sewer line replacement for a small street and an parking lot next to it.
Excavated, replaced sewer line, then backfill with compaction no less than 90%. This was done with approved materials and all field compaction tests exceeded the required 90% compaction.
The street portion started to sink in couple different areas with the parking lot portion showing no signs of sinking at all. The street however, is mainly used by trailer trucks with heavy load coming in and out of a construction material warehouse. The street lead to the warehouse and that is about it, there is no "normal" public traffic on this street.
Question: Are there different specification for roads mainly used for heavy load traffic or they mostly the same? The fact that parking lot is perfectly fine and the street sinking; while both compacted using same materials and standards and both passing all compaction tests only the street is sinking. Can this be due to the differing loads on both areas or just a coincidence?
I am not an engineer of any sort, but do work in the construction field. Here is the problem I'm trying to solve:
We did a public works contract requiring sewer line replacement for a small street and an parking lot next to it.
Excavated, replaced sewer line, then backfill with compaction no less than 90%. This was done with approved materials and all field compaction tests exceeded the required 90% compaction.
The street portion started to sink in couple different areas with the parking lot portion showing no signs of sinking at all. The street however, is mainly used by trailer trucks with heavy load coming in and out of a construction material warehouse. The street lead to the warehouse and that is about it, there is no "normal" public traffic on this street.
Question: Are there different specification for roads mainly used for heavy load traffic or they mostly the same? The fact that parking lot is perfectly fine and the street sinking; while both compacted using same materials and standards and both passing all compaction tests only the street is sinking. Can this be due to the differing loads on both areas or just a coincidence?





RE: Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
RE: Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
A pavement section that receives heavy truck traffic and has not been designed for it will fail prematurely. I've seen this numerous times on local roads and even highways where trucks go into a borrow pit and come out loaded. The pavement distress is very clear.
RE: Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
RE: Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic
What is the pattern of the depressions? Are they linear and along the pipe alignment? Are they isolated and round?
If you only have 90% compaction, the heavy traffic, both from load and vibration, can induce additional compaction.
Give us a bit more info and we'll try to help. Post a couple of photos if you can.
RE: Construction of Road with Heavy Load Traffic