Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 2010 Environmental effects on the application of spring load restrictions on low volume roads in Northern Ontario / by Jeffrey Chapin. Chapin, Jeffrey http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/3938 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons Environmental Effects on the Application of Spring Load Restrictions on Low Volume Roads in Northern Ontario by Jeffrey Chapin A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario June, 2010 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et 1^1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l’édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-71747-9 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-71747-9 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l’Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L’auteur conserve la propriété du droit d’auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protège cette thèse. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author’s permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privée, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont été enlevés de thesis. cette thèse. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n’y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. Canada Abstract Many jurisdictions throughout Canada and the United States utilize Spring Load Restriction (SLRs) on low volume roads to minimize the damage during spring thaw. The main objective of this research is to develop a SLR method for use in northern Ontario (the Lakehead University (LU) method). In order to achieve this objective a detailed review and assessment was conducted on three potential SLR methods for their use on low volume roads in northern Ontario. The three methods assessed were an empirically based approach developed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), a semi-empirical approach developed by the University of Waterloo and a thermal numerically based method using the finite element code TEMP/W. Each of the methods was calibrated for two study sites, Highway 569 in northeastern Ontario and Highway 527 in northwestern Ontario. These methods were calibrated using historical data collected from these study sites including air temperature data and observed frost and thaw depths determined from thermistor measurements. The Highway 569 study site was calibrated for the 2005/2006, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons while the Highway 527 study site was calibrated for the 2008/2009 season only. The calibrated methods were then used to predict the application and removal dates for SLRs for the two sites for the 2009/2010 season. Pavement stiffness testing was conducted during the freezing and thawing seasons at the two sites using a Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD). The purpose of LWD testing was to examine the changes in pavement stiffness resulting from progressive freezing and thawing of the pavement structure. The results of the LWD testing indicate a significant decrease in pavement stiffness during pavement structure thawing between depths of 0.2 and 0.4 m. Based on these results and an extensive literature review, a 0.3 m threshold thawing depth was selected to trigger SLR application. LWD testing also indicated a slight increase in pavement stiffness within 2 weeks of complete pavement structure thawing. Using these results it was decided that, for this research, SLRs could be removed 7 days after complete pavement structure thawing. During the calibration of the three SLR methods it was discovered that the Waterloo method requires significant adjustments to the frost and thaw depth algorithm coefficients at the onset of the thawing period. It was also determined that the accuracy of the thermal numerical modelling simulation is strongly associated with the boundary conditions used for the model. The assessment of the three methods indicates that the Mn/DOT method can closely predict the SLR application date (within 1 to 2 days) and was less accurate in predicting the SLR removal date (within 6 to 9 days). The Waterloo and TEMP/W methods did not display the same degree of accuracy as the Mn/DOT method when used in a predictive mode. Based on the LWD test results and the SLR calibration and prediction results, it was decided that the LU method should follow the Mn/DOT method and use threshold Cumulative Thawing Index (CTI) values representative of northern Ontario conditions as a trigger for application of the SLRs. In this method air temperatures are adjusted by reference temperatures which are then used to calculate a CTI. When the CTI exceeds a value corresponding to a 0.3 m pavement structure thawing depth, SLRs will be implemented. SLR removal will be based on average pavement structure thawing duration. Furthermore, LWD testing during the predicted thawing season will be used to further develop the method by qualifying pavement stiffness reductions during the onset of thaw and stiffness rebound after complete pavement structure thawing. Also, the TEMP/W thermal numerical model will be used as a tool to further refine the LU method through assessment of other pavement structures and environmental conditions. Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank my thesis supervisor Dr. Bruce Kjartanson for the tremendous amount of support and guidance that he provided to me throughout the development of this thesis. Drawing from his experiences and knowledge was invaluable to both the development of this thesis and to the growth of my academic career. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Juan Pernia for providing me the opportunity to work with him on this project. The guidance and feedback that he supplied was extremely valuable and greatly appreciated. I would like to also acknowledge Dr. Eltayeb Mohamedelhassan from Lakehead University and Dr. Myint Win Bo of DST Consulting Engineers for reviewing this thesis and providing valuable comments which increased the quality of this work. I would like to thank N5ERC, the Ministry of Transportation for Ontario for providing the funding for this research. I would also like to thank DST Consulting Engineers for their engineering scholarship award which aided in the financing of this research. I would specifically like to thank individuals from the MTO that were directly involved in the development of this thesis including: Mr. Max Perchanok, Mr. Ken Mossop, Mr. Dino Bagnariol, Ms. Fiona Leung, Mr. Justin White, Mr. Dino Leombruni, Mr. Don Petryna and Mr. Doug Flegel. To the numerous graduate and undergraduate students that helped me directly with this research or provided unwavering support, I express my thanks and gratitude. Finally I would like to thank my wife Trista, and the rest of my family for their unending support and encouragement throughout this whole process. Table of Contents Abstract................................................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................................iv 1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Problem Statement..................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Objectives and Scope of Research.......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Organization of Thesis............................................................................................................................. 4 2.0 Literature Review......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Low