Road Research

MnROAD | NRRA | Structure & Teams

Geotechnical Team

The geotechnical team is comprised of technical experts in the area of unbound materials found under pavement surfaces. Activities include: prioritization of short and long term research, development of long term research test sections, and providing input for technology transfer.

Meeting minutes

Geotechnical Team meeting minutes are accessible on the Minnesota online asset management platform eDOCs. Minutes from previous meetings back to 2016 are available upon request.

NRRA Geotechnical Efforts

2023 Projects

• Improving Moisture Resistance/Control of Pavement Foundation Systems via Engineered Water Repellency
• Instrumentation and Data Management/Analyses for Measurement While Drilling (MWD) Technology

2021 Projects

• Performance Evaluation of Wicking Geotextiles for Improving Drainage and Stiffness of Road Foundation co-sponsored with Flexible and Rigid teams
• Flooded Pavements App--Phase II co-sponsored with Preventive Maintenance team
• Reclamation and Recycling Techniques to Achieve Perpetual Pavements Characteristics co-sponsored with Flexible, ICT, and PM teams

2020 Projects

• Continuous Moisture Measurement during Pavement Foundation Construction

2019 Projects

• Environmental Impacts on the Performance of Pavement Foundation Layers - Complete
• Improve Material Inputs into Mechanistic Design Properties for Reclaimed HMA Roadways - Complete
• Mechanistic Load Restriction Decision Platform for Pavement Systems Prone to Moisture Variations - Complete
• Permeability of Base Aggregate and Sand - Complete

2017 Projects

• Determining Pavement Design Criteria for Recycled Aggregate Base and Large Stone Subbase - Complete

2017 Synthesis

• Larger Subbase Materials - Complete

Geotechnical Reports

• TDA Usage Guide (PDF), California
• Full-Depth Pavement Reclamation with Foamed Asphalt in California: Guidelines (PDF)
• Full-Depth Pavement Reclamation with Foamed Asphalt: FWD Backcalculation (PDF)
• Full-Depth Recycling Study: Test Track Construction (PDF), California
• Full-Depth Pavement Reclamation with Foamed Asphalt: Final Report (UC Davis) (PDF)
• 2017 MnROAD Unbound Layer Evaluation Using Intelligent Compaction: Ingios Validated Intelligent Compaction (VIC) Results (PDF)
• NCHRP projects NCHRP 10-84 (PDF), NCHRP 10-92 (PDF) and NCHRP 21-09 have resulted in a modulus based specification (PDF) and other important recommendations.
• MnDOT Road Foundations, Reclamation and Stabilization Reports List (PDF)
• 2016 Recycled Materials in Unbound Aggregate Base Layers in Minnesota (1604 Synthesis) (PDF)

Specifications and Manuals

California DOT

• California Aggregate Base Spec
• California Larger Subbase Materials
• California Subgrade Stabilization Guide (PDF)

Illinois DOT

• Illinois Larger Subbase Materials (PDF)
• Illinois RAP Spec (PDF)
• Illinois Recycled PCC Spec (PDF)
• Specifications & Special Provisions (DOC)
• Subgrade Manual
• Flat and Elongated particles in Coarse Aggregate (PDF)
• Determining the Percentage of Fractured Particles in Aggregate (PDF)

Michigan DOT

• Aggregate Base Course
• Open Graded Drainage Course

Minnesota DOT

• MnDOT Guidelines Geotextiles for Soil Field Personnel Pavements (PDF)
• Minnesota Recycled Aggregate Spec (PDF)
• Specifications & Special Provisions (DOC)
• Recycled Base Information (Email PDF)

Missouri DOT

• Missouri Aggregate Base Spec
• Missouri Rock Base Materials Spec

Wisconsin DOT

• Wisconsin Larger Subbase Materials (PDF)
• Wisconsin Recycled Aggregate Spec (PDF)
• Standard Specifications
• Construction and Materials Manual

Pavement Design Procedures

Illinois DOT

• Pavement Design Manual
• Mechanistic Pavement Design (XLS)
• Local Roads and Streets Manual (PDF)

Minnesota DOT

• Pavement Design Method

Missouri DOT

• AASHTO Pavement ME

Wisconsin DOT

Facilities Development Manual - Chapter 14 (PDF)

• Note: New pavement designs and pavement replacements on interstate, US and state highways are designed using AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design, Version 2.1. Local road pavement designs are based on AASHTO ’72.

Terms and Definitions

• Pavement Sections (PDF) - Terms used to define pavement foundations layers

Unbound Intelligent Compaction Partnerships

• University of Texas El Paso (DOC) (2017 MnROAD Work Plan)
• UTEP is using MnROAD as one of the field locations for NCHRP 24-45.
• Ingios (DOC) (2017 MnROAD Work Plan)
• Ingios is using MnROAD to help advance the use of intelligent compaction on unbound materials.