1st Edition

Low-Volume Road Engineering Design, Construction, and Maintenance

By Robert A. Douglas Copyright 2016
    352 Pages 118 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    352 Pages 118 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    "Everything that sustains us – grown, mined, or drilled – begins its journey to us on a low-volume road (Long)." Defined as roads with traffic volumes of no more than 400 vehicles per day, they have enormous impacts on economies, communication, and social interaction. Low-volume roads comprise, at one end of the spectrum, farm-to-market roads, roads in developing countries, northern roads, roads on aboriginal lands and parklands; and at the other end of the spectrum, heavy haul roads for mining, oil and gas, oil sands extraction, and forestry.

    Low-Volume Road Engineering: Design, Construction, and Maintenance gives an international perspective to the engineering design of low-volume roads and their construction and maintenance. It is a single reference drawing from the dispersed literature. It lays out the basic principles of each topic, from road location and geometric design, pavement design, slope stability and erosion control, through construction to maintenance, then refers the reader to more comprehensive treatment elsewhere. Wherever possible, comparisons are made between the standard specifications and practices existing in the US, Canada, the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

    Topics covered include the following:

    • Road classification, location, and geometric design
    • Pavement concepts, materials, and thickness design
    • Drainage, erosion and sediment control, and watercrossings
    • Slope stability
    • Geosynthetics
    • Road construction, maintenance, and maintenance management

    Low-Volume Road Engineering: Design, Construction, and Maintenance is a valuable reference for engineers, planners, designers and project managers in consulting firms, contracting firms and NGOs. It also is an essential reference in support of university courses on transportation engineering and planning, and on mining, oil and gas, and forestry infrastructure.

    INTRODUCTION

    Introduction to Low-Volume Roads
    Significance of Low-Volume Roads
    Definition of a Low-Volume Road
    Design Environments
    Approaching the Subject of LVR
    References

    ROAD DESIGN

    Road Location
    Definitions
    A Philosophical Exercise
    Road Location Considerations
    A Paradox
    Road Location Process
    How Much of the Full Process Is Actually Carried Out?
    Strategies
    Water Crossings
    Degree of Horizontal Curvature
    Recommended Gradients
    Computer Assistance
    References

    Road Classification
    Introduction
    The U.S. System
    The Canadian System
    The UK System
    The South African System
    The Australian System
    A Novel System
    References

    Geometric Design
    Introduction
    Design Vehicles and the Geometric Design of Haul Roads
    Stopping Sight Distance
    Coefficient of Side Friction
    Maximum Superelevation
    Horizontal Curves
    Spiral Transition Curves
    Lateral Clearance and Cleared Right of Way Width
    Railway Crossings at Grade
    Minimum Gradient
    Maximum Gradient
    Critical Length of Grade
    Crest Vertical Curves
    Sag Vertical Curves
    Cross-Sectional Elements
    One-Lane, Two-Way Roads
    General Controls
    References

    Pavement Concepts
    Introduction
    Purposes of Pavements
    Road Cross Section Components
    Pavement Structures
    Pavement Load-Carrying Mechanisms

    Pavement Materials
    Introduction
    Phase Diagram
    Soil Tests
    Soil Classification
    Tests of Aggregates
    Specification of Aggregates
    Subgrade Soil Stabilization Materials
    Asphalt Cement
    Chip Seals
    Asphalt Concrete
    Roller-Compacted Concrete
    References

    Pavement Design
    Introduction
    Inputs to Pavement Design
    Other Considerations
    Types of Pavement Design Methods
    Selected Pavement Design Methods
    U.S. Mechanistic-Empirical Design Method
    Heavy-Duty Pavement Design for Haul Roads
    References

    Drainage
    Introduction
    Surface Drainage
    Internal Drainage
    Frost
    Permafrost
    Pumping and Potholes
    References

    Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control
    Soil Erosion Process
    Which Is Preferable, Erosion Control or Sedimentation Control?
    Erosion Control
    Sedimentation Control
    Follow-Up
    References

    Watercourse Crossings
    Introduction
    Hydrology
    Fords and Low-Water Crossings
    Culverts
    Bridges
    Crossing Wetlands
    Watercourse Crossing Location
    References

    Slope Stability
    Plane Translational Failures
    Circular Failures, Φu = 0 Methods of Slices Bishop’s Modified Method of Slices Software Selection of Method Remedial Action Other Types of Slope Failures References
    Geosynthetics
    Background
    Functions
    Geosynthetic Types and Manufacture
    Geosynthetic Materials
    Tests
    Designs
    References

    ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

    Road Construction
    Introduction
    Planning
    Budgeting and Programming
    Contractual Arrangements
    Forms of Contract
    Risk
    Insurance and Bonds
    Partnering
    Contract Specifications
    Payment Certificates
    Earthwork Volume Calculations
    Construction Sequence
    Equipment
    Compaction
    Construction in Labor-Intensive Environments
    References

    Road Maintenance
    Introduction
    Maintenance Administration and Planning
    Concrete Pavements
    Asphalt Pavements
    Surface-Treated Pavements
    Gravel- and Earth-Surfaced Roads
    Maintenance Equipment
    References

    Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation Management
    Priority Planning and Programming
    Costs and Benefits
    Management at the Network and Project Levels
    Pavement Outputs
    Referencing Segments
    An Appropriate Pavement Maintenance and Rehabilitation Management System (PMS) for LVR
    Capturing the Current Condition of the Pavement Network
    Modeling the Future Condition of the Pavement Network
    Selecting the Maintenance or Rehabilitation Treatment
    Putting It All Together
    Managing Resource Access Roads
    References

    Biography

    Robert Douglas has over thirty five years' experience in low-volume road engineering consulting, teaching and research. He has been a senior geotechnical engineer with an international consulting firm, and on the academic staff of forest engineering programs at the University of New Brunswick, Canada and at the National School of Forestry at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

    "A useful source of information for designing, building and maintaining roads, many of which may be constructed in rural areas in developing nations."
    World Highways, August 2016

    "This book treats low-volume roads in the broader context of transport connectivity and logistics, emphasizing the quintessential role such roads have in improving access and mobility, especially in rural areas... There is no recent book in the market that is comparable to this text."
    —Asif Faiz, Former World Bank Highways Adviser, USA

    "It is simple yet informative and makes the reader interested in the topic. [A] well-written book."
    —Anand Puppala, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA

    "I like the approach and the selection of topics, which presents technical but also philosophical contents. … intrigued me enough to want to have this book on my shelf."
    —Filippo Giammaria Pratico, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy