New ICT-IDOT reports, projects

Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to announce the publication of reports for the following Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored projects:

“R27-183-HS: Inventory and Statistical Characterization of Inorganic Soil Constituents in Illinois”
Researchers conduct a statistical analysis of IDOT’s Regulated Substances Library, which characterizes conditions in right-of-way soils for preliminary site investigations of road construction projects. The work also includes separate appendices and Regulated Substances Library data.

“R27-183-HS: Bench-scale Electrochemical Remediation of Co-contaminated Clayey Soil”
This study seeks to develop a cost-effective approach to remove high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals — common contaminants in Illinois soils — from clayey soil.

“R27-183-HS: Evaluation of Electrochemical Treatment for Removal of Arsenic and Manganese from Field Soil”
Researchers assess an electrochemical approach to extract heavy metals from fine-grained soils in construction areas to help reduce costs as well as construction delays.

“R27-190: Evaluation of Various Perimeter Barrier Products”
The aim of this project is to conduct large-scale tests on products that prevent soil erosion in order to reduce stormwater runoff and erosion at construction sites.

“R27-193-1: Flexible Pavement Recycling Techniques: A Summary of Activities”
Researchers examine the use of two flexible pavement recycling techniques — cold in-place recycling and full-depth reclamation — and provide IDOT with recommendations for improving those techniques.

“R27-193-2: Flexible Pavement Design (Full-depth Asphalt and Rubblization): A Summary of Activities”
The aim of this study is to ensure IDOT utilizes the best available technology for design and construction of full-depth hot-mix asphalt as well as overlay design for rubblized Portland cement concrete pavement.

“R27-193-2: Performance of Interstate Rubblization in Illinois”
Here researchers review the performance of interstate rubblizing projects in Illinois as well as provide recommendations for improving its service life and performance.

“R27-193-5: Review of Improved Subgrade and Stabilized Subbases to Evaluate Performance of Concrete Pavements”
Here researchers evaluate foundation layers under concrete pavements in Illinois as well as provide recommendations and scenarios in which unbound granular layers can be used to help build well-performing and cost-effective roadways.

“R27-196-HS: Rheology-Chemical Based Procedure to Evaluate Additives/Modifiers Used in Asphalt Binders for Performance Enhancements: Phase 2”
The aim of this project is to investigate the performance of various softeners used in asphalt binder — an important component of hot-mix asphalt — in order to update IDOT’s material specifications.

“R27-203: Truck Platooning on Flexible Pavements in Illinois”
As connected and autonomous technology evolves, truck platoons — groups of closely spaced vehicles — are closer to becoming a reality. Here researchers develop a method to control pavement damage caused by truck platoons to increase pavement service life while potentially improving safety and reducing fuel consumption.

“R27-SP43: Aggregate Subgrade Improvements Using Quarry By-products: A Field Investigation”
Here researchers seek to investigate the use of quarry by-product aggregates — a quarry mix of large rocks and sand-sized quarry fines —  to create more stable and sustainable pavement foundation layers.

 

ICT is also excited to announce the start of the following IDOT-sponsored projects:

“R27-229: Evaluation of Net-free Erosion Control Blankets”
Erosion control blankets, which prevent soil erosion and stormwater pollution, typically contain plastic netting to improve their performance and durability. Here researchers investigate the use and performance of net- and plastic-free erosion control blankets during road construction.

“R27-230: Performance and Design of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements”
Given advances in mechanistic-empirical design, this project’s goal is to examine IDOT’s design procedure for continuously reinforced concrete pavements. Researchers aim to update IDOT’s current design procedure for CRCPs as well as add a new procedure for CRCP overlays.

“R27-232: Utilizing a Particle Packing Approach for an Illinois-specific, Nonproprietary, Low-Shrinkage UHPC”
Illinois’ usage of accelerated bridge construction and prefabricated bridge elements — most of which use ultra-high-performance concrete — is expected to increase. Here researchers seek to develop a UHPC mix design from local materials to reduce its high initial costs as well as recommend optimum mixing times and techniques.

“R27-233: Mechanistic-Empirical Design Procedures for Flexible Pavements”
Design procedures and policies for mechanistic-empirical flexible pavement are continually evolving, so researchers aim to maximize IDOT’s M-E design procedures and policies to reflect the latest technology.

“R27-235: Thickness Design for Cement-treated Base Pavements”
The goal of this project is to develop a design procedure and policies for IDOT’s cement-treated base pavements, which are widely used by the state’s local road agencies.

“R27-236: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Strategic Planning for the State of Illinois: Highway Electrification”
To help prepare for the future of electric vehicles, researchers examine infrastructure requirements for public charging stations to help policymakers better prepare for a greener future.

“R27-SP48: Premature Longitudinal Cracking Investigation on Unbonded Concrete Overlay”
Here researchers seek to determine the cause of longitudinal cracking on an unbonded concrete overlay of an existing pavement — a rehabilitation technique used for pavements at the end of their service life.