Stockpile life of foam stabilised material and the implications for labour intensive construction
Date
1998
Authors
Chasi, Brian Takaona
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Abstract
Various studies have been done to show that labour-based construction can meet the
high standards normally required in the construction of roads. The organisational
requirements that were needed to ensure the efficient use of labour have also been
dealt with in various studies. Tile need for alleviation of poverty, unemployment and the
negative social impact thereof by increasing the labour input in construction is
understood by all concerned.
A further step is however necessary before the idea of increasing the . labour
component in any kind of roadwork can be taken seriously. Engineers need to move
forward from the policy and organisational issues associated with labour intensive
construction and start to provide designers with sound and innovative engineering
solutions to overcome the hurdles experienced on the ground.
The study looks at the process of foam bitumen stabilisation of soils and gravels with
a view of utilising this innovative method for labour intensive construction. The material
after having been stabilised can be placed in a stockpile. Actual durations that the
material can safely remain in stockpile have been determined in this study to be in
excess of six months for recycled asphalt and in excess of four months for the foam
stabilised sand. Foam stabilised gravel was also studied and showed that after a year
in stockpile the material failed probably due to a weakening of the bitumen and
aggregate bond. Covering the stockpiled material did not show any significant
difference to that of a similar uncovered stockpile. The position within the stockpile also
did not have much effect on the engineering properties of the stoc piled material.
The fact that the foam stabilised material can be worked on when cold and that it can
be stockpiled for several months implies that the material is labour friendly and can be
used in labour intensive construction of road base course layers or wearing course
layers.
Description
A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg 1998.
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Citation
Chasi, Brian Takaona (1998) Stockpile life of foam stabilised material and the implications for labour intensive construction, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22409>