Methodology for Determining Laboratory and In Situ Hydraulic Conductivity of Asphalt Permeable Friction Course
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 1
Abstract
The permeable friction course (PFC) is a layer of porous asphalt pavement overlain on conventional impervious hot-mix asphalt or portland cement concrete. The drainage properties of PFC are typically considered to be governed primarily by two hydraulic properties: hydraulic conductivity and porosity. Both of these hydraulic properties change over the life cycle of the PFC layer due to clogging of the pore space by sediment. Therefore, determination of the hydraulic conductivity and porosity of PFC can be problematic. Laboratory and particularly field tests are necessary for accurately determining the hydraulic conductivity of the PFC layer. Taking multiple measurements over the life of the pavement shows how these hydraulic characteristics change with time and the varying roadway conditions at which they are evaluated. Constant head laboratory testing has shown that PFC experiences a nonlinear flow relationship as described by the Forchheimer equation. In addition to the laboratory analysis of the hydraulic characteristics, a falling head field test is recommended to determine the in situ hydraulic conductivity. This incorporates the modeling techniques used in the laboratory testing and applies them to the falling head conditions used in the field. The result is a nondestructive test procedure for determining the in situ hydraulic conductivity which is necessary for estimating the extent to which the benefits associated with the drainage characteristics of the PFC layer will persist.
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Acknowledgments
This work is supported by the Texas Department of Transportation under Project No. UNSPECIFIED0-5220 under TxDOT Project Director, Gary Lantrip. Additional laboratory and field work conducted by Remi Candaele and Brad Eck at The University of Texas at Austin, Center for Research in Water Resources is greatly appreciated.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 1 • January 2011
Pages: 15 - 22
Copyright
© 2011 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 20, 2009
Accepted: Apr 19, 2010
Published online: Apr 21, 2010
Published in print: Jan 2011
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