Welcome from Rigid Pavements TOC Chair

Welcome to WHRP E-News, a quarterly update of our work in the Wisconsin Highway Research Program.

Winter is a busy time for WHRP. Our Technical Oversight Committees have been selecting potential research topics for the FFY 2009 funding cycle. Every year Wisconsin DOT engineers e-mail us suggestions for research. This year we’ve also drawn on suggestions from the online surveys WHRP conducted earlier this year on research needs in rigid and flexible pavements, and from comments gathered at our visits to WisDOT’s regional offices last winter.

As we expand our efforts to reach out to our engineering colleagues around the state, we also continue to attend the various events that fill up the construction off-season in Wisconsin. Asphalt engineers have been attending conferences like the Marquette Asphalt Paving Conference in Waukesha last month. Concrete engineers will attend the annual technical meeting of the Wisconsin Ready Mixed Concrete Association in Wisconsin Dells at the end of next month. Geotechnics engineers may head north for the Minnesota Geotechnical Conference in February.

These events keep our TOC members abreast of the latest developments in their fields and raise WHRP stature in the region and the country.

Most importantly, though, attendance helps us provide the high-quality, long-lived pavements and bridges Wisconsin drivers expect of us.

James Parry
Materials Laboratory Quality Assurance Supervisor
Chair, Rigid Pavements TOC
james.parry@dot.state.wi.us
(608) 246-7939

WHRP Projects Help WisDOT Implement New Pavement Design Guide

As WisDOT continues its transition from current design methods to those in the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide, the department requires input and performance data only research can provide. WHRP has been providing that data since 2004, when a project on aggregate support values was published. As detailed in the table below, three TOCs have directed a total of 12 WHRP projects funded at over $800,000 to support implementation of the new design guide; seven of these projects have been completed.

Each project’s Web page can be viewed at the WHRP Web site. For more information, contact WHRP Program Manager Andrew Hanz.

WHRP Will Participate in Regular WisDOT Meetings

WHRP's technical director and program manager will be actively involved in regular meetings of WisDOT technical staff in the coming year. The purpose is to have regular discussions with statewide bureau personnel as well as the regional offices in order to identify research needs, communicate results of completed WHRP research projects and encourage implementation of findings into practice.

Current plans call for WHRP attendance at:

TSS/PDS Improvement Conference, March 11-12, 2008
Joint PDS/TSS Chiefs Meeting, Spring 2008
Joint PDS/TSS Chiefs Meeting, Summer 2008
Individual Regional Offices, Upon request

WHRP will also work with the Asphalt and Concrete Tech Teams to address comments and specification changes that were submitted for consideration as part of the online survey that was conducted.

For more information on these WHRP outreach activities, contact Andrew Hanz.

Travis McDaniel New Co-Chair of Structures TOC

For several months WisDOT’s Travis McDaniel has been assisting Scot Becker with his duties as chair of the Structures TOC. McDaniel, who has been a bridge engineer with WisDOT for six years and holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia, will become the TOC’s co-chair this month.

The Structures TOC also recently welcomed four new members from Wisconsin’s private sector:

• Dave Pantzlaff, manager for structural engineering, Ayres Associates
• Tony Shkurti, structural engineer, HNTB
• Scott Krall, Edward Kraemer & Sons
• Dan Kowalski, Lunda Construction Company

Project Status at a Glance

As of September 30, 2007, there were 32 active WHRP projects. Four projects were completed during the last quarter.

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Research in Focus

Testing HMA for the Design Guide
0092-04-07, Testing Wisconsin Asphalt Mixtures for the AASHTO 2002 Mechanistic Design Procedure

As WisDOT adopts the new AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide, its asphalt engineers face a variety of data collection needs. The most important input for design guide use is dynamic modulus, a measure of pavement’s ability to spring back from repeated loading.

The standard test for determining dynamic modulus hasn’t been used much by WisDOT, so designers aren’t sure how M-E designs will differ from current designs.

WHRP contracted with Chris Williams of Iowa State University to develop dynamic modulus inputs and evaluate how reasonable the inputs are for Wisconsin. Williams provided WHRP with inputs for 21 mixes pulled from batch plants during the 2004 and 2005 construction seasons, and he found that WisDOT practices match the design guide results well.

Analysis of Early Concrete Joint Distress Confirms WisDOT Suspicions
0092-05-05, Analysis of Concrete Pavement Joints to Predict the Onset of Distress

The concrete pavement on Interstate 90/94 near Wisconsin Dells was only about five years old in the late 1990s. Yet potholes were forming, corners of slabs were cracking, and pulverized concrete was rising to the surface during heavy rains. When heavy trucks passed over the damaged areas, pieces of concrete would fly out.

WisDOT investigated the jointed plain concrete, and WHRP contracted with Rob Rasmussen of The Transtec Group in Texas to analyze the problem. Rasmussen’s recent report confirmed three WisDOT hunches that since the 1990s have triggered specification changes:

• Skewed transverse joints increase joint distress. WisDOT uses perpendicular joints now.
• Panels over 16 feet in length increase slab stress and decrease load transfer. WisDOT reduced panel length to 15 feet in 2006.
• Open-graded base course supports slabs poorly at corners, offers little drainage and shear strength, and provides a poor construction platform. WisDOT now uses a finer grade of aggregate for bases.

Researchers also recommended that WisDOT consider the use of smaller dowels at wider or selective spacing; engineers are considering this suggestion.

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Regional and National Collaboration

Frozen Four Digs into Subgrade Resilient Modulus

The North Central Pavement Research Coordination Partnership, or Frozen Four, met in Lansing, Mich., October 17 and 18 to discuss measurement and use of resilient modulus in subgrade design for pavement structures. WisDOT attendees included Laura Fenley and Irene Battaglia from the Foundation and Pavements Unit, and Peg Lafky from the Research and Library Unit.

Speakers from each state presented information on their research efforts. Presenting were:

• Gilbert Baladi, Michigan State University, on Michigan DOT’s use of resilient modulus in characterizing subgrade.
• Ralph Hodek, Michigan Technological University, on laboratory measurement of resilient modulus.
• Hani Titi, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, on predicting resilient modulus from laboratory measurements of other soil properties.
• Debakanta Mishra, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on predicting resilient modulus from field and aggregate properties.
• Joseph Labuz, University of Minnesota, on using existing soil data for prediction and sensitivity analysis of mechanistic-empirical design.
• John Siekmeier, Mn/DOT, on an early draft of a new NCHRP Synthesis Report on estimating resilient modulus for subgrade materials.

A variety of action items emerged from the workshop, beginning with producing a synthesis of each state’s resilient modulus measuring procedures. WisDOT plans to lead the Frozen Four pooled fund for another two years with an expanded scope that includes an annual workshop and targeted research projects.

For information on the resilient modulus workshop, contact WHRP Program Manager Andrew Hanz.

WHRP Travels Local Conference Circuit

WHRP TOC and Steering Committee members stay quite busy during the fall and winter conference and workshop season. These technical gatherings help WHRP keep current on materials, design, construction and management of soils, pavements and structures. In addition to national gatherings, such as the TRB Annual Meeting and the National Asphalt Association’s annual conference, regional gatherings keep WHRP staff and volunteers on the road, as well.

Recent events attended by WHRP members include:

• Load and Resistance Factor Design Geotechnical Workshop, Sept. 6, Madison (hosted by WisDOT).
• Midwest Geotechnical Conference, Sept. 26-28, Bloomington, Minn.
• Marquette Asphalt Paving Conference, Nov. 14, Waukesha.
• Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association Annual Conference, Nov. 27-28, Madison.

Upcoming events include:

• Flexible Pavements – Jan. 8-10, North Central Hot Mix Asphalt Technical Conference, Springfield, Ill.
• Rigid Pavements – Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association Annual Technical Meeting, Wisconsin Dells.
• Geotechnics – Feb. 28, University of Minnesota Geotechnical Engineering Conference, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Rigid Pavements – Feb. 12-14, WCPA Annual Workshop, Appleton.
• Rigid Pavements – March (date to be announced), Marquette Concrete Paving Conference, Waukesha.

WHRP Presentations Featured at TRB Annual Meeting

Wisconsin—including WisDOT, Wisconsin universities and WHRP - will again be featured prominently at the TRB Annual Meeting Jan. 13-17, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Over 50 sessions and panels will feature Wisconsin researchers and transportation officials.

WHRP researchers will be involved in several of these gatherings. WHRP projects, in particular, will inform presentations at the following sessions:

• Workshop 150, Issues in Highway Quality Assurance, Jan. 13, 1:30-5 p.m. WisDOT’s Judie Ryan, a Flexible Pavements TOC member, will be part of a panel discussion. Ryan has been deeply involved with many WHRP projects relating to assessing flexible pavement quality.
• Poster Session 241, Nanotechnology-Based Concrete Materials, Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. “Effects of Nanoporous Films in Interfacial Transition Zone Properties of Concrete,” Jose Munoz, Jessica Sanfilippo, Maria Tejedor, Marc Anderson, Steven Cramer, UW-Madison. This presentation will draw on data from WHRP Project 0092-04-12, “Expanded Study on the Effects of Aggregate Coatings and Films on Concrete Performance.” See the paper abstract and the WHRP project Web page.
• Session 343, Development in Asphalt Binder Specifications, Jan. 14, 3:45-5:30 p.m. WHRP Technical Director Hussain Bahia, UW-Madison, will discuss “Developments in Intermediate-Temperature Specifications,” drawing in part on his various flexible pavements research projects with WHRP.
• Poster Session 523, Asphalt Materials Characterization, Jan. 15, 2:30-5 p.m. Wilfung Martono and Hussain Bahia, UW-Madison, will present “Developing a Surrogate Test for Fatigue of Asphalt Binders.” This work builds in part on WHRP project 0092-03-13, “Field Validation of Wisconsin Modified Binder Selection Guidelines,” which conducted time-sweep tests of flexible pavements to assess fatigue. See the paper abstract and the WHRP project Web page. 
• Poster Session 710, Reclamation of Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements, Jan. 16, 2:30-5 p.m. This session includes “Laboratory Comparison of Crushed Aggregate and Recycled Pavement Material With and Without High-Carbon Fly Ash,” a presentation by Haifang Wen, Justin Warner and Tuncer Edil of UW-Madison (see the paper abstract). Wen and Edil have each led several WHRP research products, and Edil in particular has conducted studies of fly ash as subgrade amendments, as well as research on various amendment materials over reclaimed asphalt base courses (see the WHRP project Web page).

TRB committee meetings of direct interest to WHRP’s four TOCs include the following:

Flexible Pavements

• AFK40 Characteristics of Bituminous-Aggregate Combinations To Meet Surface Requirements, Monday, January 14, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• AFK50 Advanced Models to Understand Behavior and Performance of Asphalt Mixtures, Monday, January 14, 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
• AFK20 Characteristics of Bituminous Materials, Tuesday, January 15, 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
• AFK30 Characteristics of Nonbituminous Components of Bituminous Paving Mixtures, Wednesday, January 16, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Rigid Pavements

• AFN20 Properties of Concrete, Tuesday, January 15, 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
• AFN30 Durability of Concrete, Tuesday, January 15, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• AFN40 Concrete Materials and Placement Techniques, Tuesday, January 15, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Structures

• AFF30 Concrete Bridges, Monday, January 14, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• AFF20 Steel Bridges, Monday, January 14, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
• AFH40 Construction of Bridges and Structures, Monday, January 14, 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Geotechnical

• AFP20 Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials, Monday, January 14, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
• AFP30 Soil and Rock Properties, Wednesday, January 16, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• AFP70 Mineral Aggregates, Wednesday, January 16, 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

The Wisconsin Transportation Reception at TRB will take place on Tuesday, January 15th at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. View the invitation.

WisDOT’s Research & Library Unit will soon publish this year’s Wisconsin Guide to the TRB Annual Meeting, detailing the participation of Wisconsin researchers and practitioners at the meeting. For more information, contact Pat Casey.

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Outreach

Battaglia Presents WHRP Project Results at International Concrete Conference

WisDOT Pavement Research and Warranty Engineer Irene Battaglia recently presented research from a WHRP study at the International Conference on Optimizing Paving Concrete Mixtures and Accelerated Concrete Pavement Construction and Rehabilitation. The Nov. 7-9 conference, held in Atlanta, drew about 170 engineers.

Battaglia presented research from her master’s thesis, WHRP study 0092-05-01,“Effects of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) in Portland Cement Concrete (PCC)—Expanded Study.” In her presentation, Battaglia showed results of the impact of aggregate selection and curing methods on concrete mixes made with two grades of slag, a byproduct of iron ore processing.

Attractive for its status as a recovered material that would otherwise be discarded, slag works best if mixed and cured under ambient conditions (70 degrees Fahrenheit), and the higher slag grade clearly outperformed the lower grade. “We’re still looking at how curing affects deicer scaling,” Battaglia said recently.

For more information, see the conference Web page, the WHRP project Web page, or contact Irene Battaglia.

Fitzgerald, Ghorbanpoor Present WHRP Research on Concrete Beam Ends
 
WisDOT Highway Operations Supervisor Ed Fitzgerald will present a paper with UW-Milwaukee professor Al Ghorbanpoor at the Paint and Coatings Expo 2008 Jan. 27-30 in Los Angeles.

Their presentation will draw heavily on WHRP project 0092-01-06, “Rehabilitation Techniques for Concrete Bridges,” which Ghorbanpoor co-authored with UW-Milwaukee colleague Habib Tabatabai. The research showed that coating concrete bridge beam ends with a polymer resin protects beams from corrosion.

For information on the conference, see the PACE Web site. The final report and research brief can be found on the WHRP project Web page. Contact Ed Fitzgerald for more information.

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Implementation Report

WHRP Expands the Selection of Deck Sealers Bridge Crews Can Use
0092-07-22, Implementation Project for Bridge Deck Crack Sealers

When road salts melt snow and ice, chloride ions can seep into concrete and corrode reinforcing steel or deteriorate concrete and steel substructures. WHRP commissioned a study—0092-03-09, “Evaluation of Concrete Deck and Crack Sealers”—to evaluate whether deck and crack sealers commonly used to prevent chloride penetration work.

WHRP research showed that solvent-based sealers could be effective, but that freeze-thaw cycles reduce their ability to protect bridge decks. The study results prompted WisDOT to expand its list of approved sealants in the Construction and Materials Manual, but the Structures TOC wanted to explore the results further.

So WHRP funded a 2007 implementation project, led by investigator José Pincheira of UW-Madison, to expand on the original study and further broaden the list of effective sealants by subjecting products to additional tests. Results are expected to be available soon.

For more information, see the implementation project Web page or the original study’s Web page.

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About WHRP
www.whrp.org

The Wisconsin Highway Research Program was established in 1998 by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to conduct research on highway materials and construction methods. WHRP is administered by the UW-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. A Steering Committee chaired by the WisDOT Research Administrator provides policy direction to the WHRP Technical Director, Program Manager and five Technical Oversight Committees chaired by WisDOT engineers. The TOCs focus their work on Flexible Pavements, Rigid Pavements, Geotechnics, Structures and Data Integration. The Steering Committee and TOCs are composed of representatives from WisDOT, FHWA, academia and industry.

WHRP E-News is produced for WisDOT by CTC & Associates LLC

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