Research on Analysis and Design of Low Volume Roads by using UK-DCP Software

In India, mostly of low volume roads (village and other district roads) are constructing/ rehabilitating with the earlier set design specifications/ standards, which have no concrete design procedures/methods. The existing designs have made without collecting the required data and its analysis. This becomes very true while going for strengthening of the existing pavement (overlay). The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is an instrument which can be used for the rapid measurement of the in-situ strength of existing flexible pavements constructed with unbound materials. Measurements can be made down to a depth of 800 mm or to a maximum depth of 1500mm by adding an extension rod. Where the pavement layers have different strengths, the boundaries between them can be identified and the thickness of each layer determined using the software program called UK DCP 3.1. This Project aims to design the overlay for low volume roads by collecting the data through DCP test, and designing of overlay by using UK-DCP software and AASHTO design guidelines. To achieve this, initially it is planned to carry out traffic volume survey (7 days) on the project road and forecasting it to the design life. Thereafter DCP testing will be performed on the project road to collect the DCP penetration data. The collected data will be used to divide and analysis the existing pavement layers for its structural number, CBR values and thicknesses. Homogeneous sectional analysis will be performed with the obtained layer thicknesses, strength and materials properties. With the help of UK-DCP software and AASHTO design methodology, the existing pavement structural number (Ne) will be calculated from filed data and test results. At other end, the required structural number (Nr) for future design traffic will be designed as per AASHTO guidelines. The overlay thickness will arrive from the difference of Nr and Ne, and it will be provided as additional bituminous layers to sustain future traffic. UK-DCP software is also provide BOQ of the project road to the recommended design options for the given unit rates.