Current work in the characterisation of unbound pavement materials being conducted in Australia focuses on bridging the gaps between research and practical applications. This has been demonstrated through the adoption of a simple repeated load triaxial (RLT) test as a national laboratory test that can be used to obtain materials data for use in performance-based material specifications, construction standards and mechanistic pavement design procedures. With the collaboration of other laboratories and industry, RLT testing equipment and test procedures have been standardised and field trials conducted to establish relationships between RLT test results and field performance. Potential changes in the current material specifications, construction standards and mechanistic pavement design procedures based on the use of RLT test results are identified and discussed. Strategies for the interim and full implementation of the test method into practical applications are also proposed in the paper. (a)
Samenvatting