Project status
In progress
Start date: 04/01/08
End date: 06/30/09
Researcher(s)
Principal investigators:
- Charles Jahren | 515-294-3829 | cjahren@iastate.edu (project list)
Co-principal investigators:
- David White | 515-294-1463 | djwhite@iastate.edu (project list)
About the research
Edge ruts can quickly develop in certain critical locations causing severe safety problems that require managers to quickly redirect resources away from routine maintenance tasks and compropmising efficiency. Therefore, this issue can disrupt the entire workflow for a maintenance group with ripple effects that could result in situations where seemingly unrelated maintenance issues receive less attention than they should.
Objectives of this research include
--Determine the relative importance of localized, chronic edge rut issues compared to longer reaches of roadway with more general shoulder edge rut maintenance issues.
--Develop a series of strategies for mitigating edge rut problems using variious mixtures and gradations of granular materials and various stabilizing agents.
--Rate the performance of a subset of the above mentioned strategies by observing test sections.
--Recommend strategies based on the results of test section performance, cost, and likely future maintenance procedures.
--Assist the Iowa DOT in implementing the use of the recommended strategies.
Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s): Iowa Department of Transportation