Long-term performance evaluation of wood fibre fills. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6744657

Kilian, A P; Ferry, C D

The paper presents the results of a research project to determine the long-term performance of wood fiber embankments, that were constructed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) beginning in 1972. At the time of their construction, concern existed that wood fiber fills would only provide a 15 to 20 year service life. Performance of existing wood fiber fills was evaluated based on the quality of the wood fiber material, quality of the effluent, and condition of the pavement. A visual classification system rating the wood fiber from fresh to completely decomposed was developed and used in order to establish a criteria from which all wood fiber material could be rated. Visual examination in conjunction with laboratory tests were used as determining aspects for the effluent quality. The WSDOT Pavement Management System was used to evaluate relative pavement performance. Site descriptions are presented giving specific characteristics and properties of the fills inventoried. An analysis of this information was done to determine the effectiveness of the fills. Over half the wood fiber samples were found to be nearly fresh or fresh and none were found to be completely decomposed. In all but one case, the pavement quality over the wood fiber fills surpassed the comparative highway segment rating indicating the wood fill's performance exceeded that of the surrounding area.

• Research Organization: Washington State Dept. of Transportation, Olympia, WA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6744657
• Report Number(s): PB-93-142164/XAB; WA-RD-239.1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ROADS
BACKFILLING
WOOD
EVALUATION
SERVICE LIFE
CLASSIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION
DECOMPOSITION
DRAINAGE
EMBANKMENTS
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
INFORMATION NEEDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
US DOT
VALIDATION
WASHINGTON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
LIFETIME
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANNING
TESTING
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
091000* - Biomass Fuels- Properties & Composition- (1990-)