ROAD STABILISATION ARRATHOOL SHIRE ROADWORKS … Elements Project Summ… · ripping. PHOTO 3...
Transcript of ROAD STABILISATION ARRATHOOL SHIRE ROADWORKS … Elements Project Summ… · ripping. PHOTO 3...
ROAD STABILISATION—CARRATHOOL SHIRE December’s featured road stabilisation project was on Main Road
501 (Lachlan Valley Way) which lies in Carrathool Shire Council
(CSC). CSC is in South Western NSW and has a total of 2700km
of local roads, many of which lie in very challenging soils. To
meet the challenge CSC have a fleet of six graders, two of which
are all wheel drive. Their equipment choice is telling of the chal-
lenging soils.
PROJECT SUMMARY MAIN ROAD 501 Five Elements International Pty Ltd
07 3348 5533
www.five-elements.com.au
77 Stradbroke Avenue
WYNNUM QLD 4178
CARRATHOOL SHIRE - MAIN ROAD 501
DESCRIPTION DETAILS
Project length (m) 4700
Project width (m) 5
Project area (m2) 23,500
Pavement type Mix of various gravels, clay & loam
Plas$city High
POLYTAHR STABILISER CSC staff have extensive experience with polymer stabilisation,
and dry granule application is their preferred method. Conditions
were dry both before and after the works, enabling good dry back
and hardening. The following table summarises the Polytahr ap-
plication for MR 501.
CARRATHOOL SHIRE - MAIN ROAD 501
DESCRIPTION DETAILS
Treatment depth (mm) 100
Applica$on rate (g/m2) 6.4
Polytahr™ required (kg) 150
Applica$on method Dry—12V electric spreader
Volume of treated pavement m3 2,350
Water required (kl) 263
Daily produc$vity (m2) 5,000
Moisture addi$on % by Vol 11.2%
ROADWORKS EQUIPMENT The following equipment was utilised for the MR 501 project
• Caterpillar 14M all wheel drive grader
• Pohlner Combination smooth drum/multi tyred roller
• Kenworth semi trailer water cart—28,000 litre capacity
• Dual cab ute 2WD for spreading polymer
CSC have selected equipment that is well suited to their local con-
ditions in regards to productivity and distance to water sources.
RIPPING OF EXISTING PAVEMENT
The existing pavement was ripped to a depth of 100mm using the
grader mounted scarifier bar. Note the powdery surface prior to
ripping.
PHOTO 3 Spreading of Polytahr granules from tow bar
mounted 12V electric spreader
After spreading of the polymer granules water was applied to the
road with the Kenworth 28,000 litre tanker using fan sprayers.
This quickly brought the moisture level to near optimum to enable
successful blade mixing of the pavement. The existing pavement
consisted of a mixture of materials including red earths, dark red/
brown plastic clay, limestone and large chunks of soft grey sand-
stone. It was a real mixed bag of materials which are a challenge
to hold together without polymer stabilisation.
PHOTO 1 The final stages of finishing off MR 501
PROJECT PROFILE—MAIN ROAD 501 Main Road 501 is classified as a regional road and is the main link
between Hillston and Booligal, running adjacent the Lachlan River.
The traffic profile includes a substantial number of heavy vehicles
which service large scale agricultural enterprises including cotton
and almond farms. The section of MR 501 between Hillston and
Booligal has an unrestricted road train rating, and is a feeder road
to the Cobb Highway & Sturt Highway.
The aim of the project was to polymer stabilise the existing pave-
ment to a depth of 100mm to reduce maintenance, while also
providing a better driving surface with reduced dust.
PHOTO 2 Ripping of the existing pavement
POLYTAHR APPLICATION
Application of the Polytahr granules was with a 12V electric
spreader. The required dose was applied in four passes.
PHOTO 4 Close up of the ripped material show ing plastic
clays in the dark brown chunks, a large chunk of soft grey sand-
stone, red earth and small pieces of limestone.
Polytahr is the most economical stabilisation product available and
is marketed to enable Councils to undertake mass stabilisation,
making it economically sustainable to manage road networks.
Application and incorporation of Polytahr is simple and safe for
Council staff. The staff at CSC are experienced and competent in
the application of Polytahr, requiring no support from Five Ele-
ments. CSC are making use of large scale Polytahr polymer stabi-
lisation to make a significant impact on their road assets.
PHOTO 5 Watering and mixing of pavement. A total of
28,000 litres was used to for each 500m long segment.
PHOTO 7 A tight surface after completion of compaction
HOW DOES POLYTAHR WORK Polytahr works by binding clays and fine particles through adhe-
sion and chemical binding. Once dry back is achieved pavements
become very resistant to wear, wetting and dust is suppressed.
PRODUCT SUPPORT Polytahr is supported by Five Element’s Product Engineer Frank
Dyrssen. Frank has 12 years of local government engineering
experience, and has also worked in the mining sector for a num-
ber of years. Frank has a Degree in Engineering and a Certificate
IV in Mining Operations. Five Elements can advise on;
• Application methods
• Dose rates
• Suitability of soils for stabilisation
FIVE ELEMENTS — EQUIPMENT SUPPLY
Five Elements provides equipment for dry application of Polytahr
crystal granules directly to pavement material, and equipment for
combining Polytahr granules with water to form a polymer solu-
tion.
The dry application is achieved utilizing an electric spreader that is
attached to the 2” tow bar socket of a ute. While many of our
customers are happy with the results achieved with dry spreading
of Polytahr there are some benefits of applying Polytahr in solu-
tion form.
The Polytahr solution preparation is best done with Five Element’s
Eductor pump. Benefits of utilizing the Eductor pump include;
• Consistent solution preparation & better moisture control
• Safety Benefits — Eliminates the need to top load into tank-
ers
• Rapid preparation of solution — Tankers can be filled at the
same rate as usual while adding polymer using the Eductor
pump
PHOTO 6 Compaction using a Pohlner tow behind roller.
The smooth drum was also used to push in larger stones
Thorough incorporation of the polymer has resulted in a well
bound pavement which will be resistant to moisture ingress or
unraveling under dry conditions. It is also evident that there is
reduced dust along the treated section of road.
POLYTAHR COST Polytahr is one of the most economical means of stabilisating
pavement and subgrade material. Please contact us to obtain
application advice and pricing.
Five Elements International Pty Ltd
07 3348 5533
www.five-elements.com.au
77 Stradbroke Avenue
WYNNUM QLD 4178