This paper was presented at the `Value-Added Pavement Design and Performance' session. With freezing indices ranging from 800 to over 2000 degrees C day and frost penetration reaching up to 3 meters under pavement surface, frost action has always been a major concern for pavement engineers in the province of Quebec (Canada). This paper presents alternative techniques to protect pavement against the detrimental effects of frost action. Field observations over the two first winters of highway sections insulated respectively with saw dust, a tire chips/sand mixture and extruded polystyrene are presented. The instrumentation consisted of heave gauges, thermistors, TDR probes, piezometers. Deflection, profile and extent of surface deterioration were also periodically measured on the test sections. The data suggest that the test section insulated with saw dust performed well and had the best cost-performance ratio. The test section with styrofoam also performed well. The tire chips/sand layer did not prevent the frost from penetrating into the frost-susceptible subgrade. The field results of the control section were analyzed with FROST 1D using the segregation potential. Predictions and observations were agreed well confirming the relevance of the SP-based approach for frost heave prediction in the field. (A)
Samenvatting