Abstract:
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is an instrument designed for the rapid in-situ
measurement of the structural properties of existing pavements with unbound
granular materials. Correlations to CBR, structural Capacity (SN), resilient
modulus, and its use in performance evaluation of pavement layers make it an
attractive alternative to more expensive and time consuming instruments. Other
possible applications of DCP such as its use in the quality control of compaction of
fill.
The main objectives of the study is to analyze the DCP test data using UK DCP 3.1
software to predict in-situ soil strength in terms of CBR value, and to obtain the
structural number (SN) in order to estimate the structural Capacity to upgrade
Existing low volume Gravel Roads.
In this study a 20 km road section from DAMAZEN ALKORMOOK Road (total
length 90 KM) DCP test data had been analyzed (as a case study) using UK DCP
3.1 software to evaluate unbound layers strength, and to determine their
thicknesses.
The study results shows that the road section(20 km) should be upgraded by adding
20 cm sub base layer with 30% CBR value, 20 cm base layer with 80% CBR
value, double surface treatment for the carriage way, and single surface treatment
for shoulder. It is also recommended to complete the old width road to become
7.0m, with 2.5m shoulders, and to rehabilitate the drainage facilities.
We recommend introducing DCP instrument as rapid in situ measurement of the
structural properties of existing pavements with unbound granular materials.
