Measuring the in situ California Bearing Ratio of a new constructed forest road using DCP

Abstract

Despite the cost of forest roads, they are essential infrastructure to provide access for resource management. The quality of roads pavement depends largely on the material used, particularly type of pavement that sometimes includes up to 70% of total cost. The purpose of this study was to use the DCP for CBR assessment of a newly completed road segment. Therefore, a DCP and a penetrometer were used to assess penetration resistance. Then penetration index of DCP was converted to field CBR. The results showed that bearing ratio of sections with clay material (which treated with Ionic stabilizer) was significantly lower than sections with clay and gravel material. There is a significant positive correlation between values of DCP and penetrometer. CBR values of the investigated road were less than expected and improper for passing traffic, which road destruction and wheel rut caused by traffic pass at the end of summer, confirms the achieved result. Regarding the lack of CBR tests in forest road projects due to its cost-time consuming and road surface destruction, using DCP as a simple, efficient and non destructive tool is suggested for estimating field CBR.

Keywords

• forest road
• pavement
• CBR
• DCP
• ionic stabilizer