Project Summary:
Rehabilitation of existing pavement structures is a primary objective in many roadway constructions projects in New England (NE) region. Reclaimed stabilized base (RSB) with an appropriate stabilizing agent is an appealing option for many rehabilitation projects. Depending on the type of base layer, various traditional stabilizing agents (e.g. cement, lime, calcium chloride, asphalt emulsion) are used in RSB projects to rehabilitate roadways by reclaiming the base material. Despite their advantages, traditional stabilizers entail some disadvantages (e.g. chemical reactions that might lead to disintegration of bonds). An alternative to the traditional stabilizers is using enzymatic stabilizers (e.g. lingosulphonate, terrazyme, bio-grouting) or a combination of an enzyme with traditional stabilizers in RSB leading to an improved stabilization outcome. The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of enzymatic stabilizers in RSB projects in Vermont and the NE region. The outcomes of this project will provide the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and other NE Departments of Transportation (DOTs) with the right tools (e.g. guidelines and recommendation) that will assist engineers in (i) determining the appropriate enzymatic agent for the type of base/subbase material, (ii) improving the success rate of the RSB projects while using sustainable techniques, (iii) increasing pavement durability and service life and consequently savings in maintenance costs, and (iv) increasing roadway safety.
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Ehsan Ghazanfari
Institution:
University of Vermont
Co-PIs:
Dr. Mandar Dewoolkar
Project Type:
Base-Funded Research
Start Date:
9/1/2020
Project Cost:
$538,278
Project Status:
In Progress
End Date:
8/31/2023
Agency ID:
69A3551847101
Sponsors:
University Transportation Centers Program
University of Vermont
Vermont Agency of Transportation
Implementation of Research Outcomes:
This project is in its initial research phase. Implementation of Research outcomes will be reported upon completion of initial research.
Impacts and Benefits of Implementation:
This project is in its initial research phase. Impacts and benefits of the research will be reported after the implementation phase.
Related Links:
Coming Soon
Downloadable Documents
Printable Project Information Sheet
March 2021 Quarterly Progress Report
June 2021 Quarterly Progress Report
September 2021 Quarterly Progress Report
December 2021 Quarterly Progress Report