ERDC Expedient Road Construction Methods for Sand and Soft Soil Subgrade (TPD0403012)

Expedient Road Construction

Expedient Military Engineering:

• Logistics-Over-The-Shore (LOTS)
• Bypass Routes – Temporary Solutions
• Log Base Support
• Establish Lines-of-Communication  (LOCs)

Peacetime Military Engineering:

• Temporary Access Roads
• Perimeter Roads
• Tank Trails and Training Facilities

Expedient Road Solutions

Sandy Soils:

• Sand Grid or Geocell
• Geofiber Stabilization
• Fiberglass Matting
• Plastic Hexagonal Matting

Soft Soils:

• Corduroy/Wood Matting
• DURA-BASE Matting
• Geosynthetics/Lightweight Fill

Geocell/Sand Grid:

• HDPE Collapsible Cells for Reduced Footprint
• 8-ft by 20-ft Expanded Sections
• Installation Rate 65 ft2/man-hour
• Cost $1.50/ft2
• Supports 2,000 5-Ton Trucks

Geofibers:

• Mix 8% by weight of 2-in.-long Fibers In Sand
• Confines Sand for Improved Bearing Capacity
• Intimate Mixing Required
• 8-in. Roads and 12-in. for Airfields
• Surface with 5-1.0 gsy Road Oyl/acrylic polymer
• Installation Rate 250 ft2/man-hour
• Cost $1.59/ft2

Geofiber Construction:

      Place               Mix              Compact                 Spray                   Traffic

Fiberglass Matting:

• Fiberglass 6-ft by 6-ft 110-lb Panels
• Installation Rate: 400 ft2per man-hour
• Cost $7.88/ft2(Reusable)
• Traffic: 2,000 5-Ton Trucks

Plastic Hexagonal Matting:

• HDPE Hexagonal Matting (2.9 ft2 per mat)
• Installation Rate: 750 ft2per man-hour
• Cost $6.00/ft2(Reusable)
• Traffic: Light-Traffic Areas & Flooring
• Not for Sharp Curves
• Not as Durable

8

Installation

Installation using Alignment tools

Alignment of mat panel holes

Pin connector

Expedient Road Solutions – Mobi-Mat?

• Roll-Up Mesh with/without Reinforcing Bars
• Installation Rate 100 ft2/man-hour with Staking
• Cost $14.11 to 90/ft2
• Supports <50 5-Ton Trucks Over Sand (Webster and Tingle 1998)

Corduroy/Wood Matting:

• Prefabricated Wood Mat/Geotextile
• Installation Rate: 100 ft2per man-hour
• Cost $4.99/ft2(Reusable)
• Traffic: 2,000 5-Ton Trucks on 1 CBR

DURA-BASE Matting:

• 8-ft by 14-ft HDPE Panels (1,100 lbs/panel)
• Installation Rate: 150 ft2per man-hour
• Cost $29.75/ft2(Reusable or Lease)
• Traffic: 2,000 5-Ton Trucks over 1 CBR

DURA-BASE Mat

Geosynthetics/Lightweight Fill:

• Up to 50% Reduction in Aggregate Requirements
• Wood Chips/Sand Provide Drainable Lightweight Fill
• Installation Rate: 50 to 100 ft2per man-hour
• Cost $1.35 to $3.27/ft2
• Traffic: 5,000 5-Ton Trucks

Geosynthetics/Lightweight Fill:

Sustainment Solutions

Example of Aggregate Road Design:

Summary:

• Contingency Operations Requires Flexibility
• Identify Mission Requirements
• Assess the Conditions
  • Site Characterization
  • Equipment Available
  • Material Available
  • Manpower Available
  • Other Resources
• Evaluate Alternative Solutions
• Select the “Best” Option for the Situation

Military Road and Airfield Construction