materials investigation and pavement design for upgrading gachororo road to bitumen standards

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Materials investigation and pavement design for upgrading Gachororo road to bitumen standards. By BYEBI BASEMA FABRICE Reg. No. EN251-2193/2011 Supervised by Mr. Karimi 1/1/2016

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DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING

Materials investigation and pavement design for upgrading

Gachororo road to bitumen standards.

By BYEBI BASEMA FABRICE

Reg. No. EN251-2193/2011

Supervised by Mr. Karimi

1/1/2016

i

DECLARATION

I, Byebi Basema Fabrice, do declare that this report is my original work and to the best

of my knowledge, it has not been submitted for any degree award in any University or

Institution.

Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _________________

BYEBI BASEMA FABRICE

EN251-2193/2011

CERTIFICATION

I have read this report and approve it for examination.

Signed: ______________________________________ Date: _________________

Mr. JOB KARIMI

ii

DEDICATION

First, I dedicate this research work to Almighty God who has brought me this far.

Second, I dedicate this research work to Eng. Basema Emmanuel and Rosette Chitera (my

loving parents) for the great sacrifice to make me who I am. May ‘God bless u’.

Finally, I dedicate this research work to my brothers and sister, who continuously gave me

moral and social support throughout my studies.

iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indebted to a number of the personalities without whom my final year project would have

been a success. First and foremost, Almighty God for the abundant grace and care. Secondly,

My Supervisor Mr. Job Karimi for his expert guidance and assistance. Thirdly, to the

department of civil engineering for financing this research project.

Further appreciation goes to the laboratory team; Mr. Hinga, Mr. O. Juma and Ms. Lydia Ehaba

among other very able laboratory staff for their guidance and assistance during the testing phase

of this project.

I cannot forget my family, friends, and classmates for their support and motivation throughout

this project.

iv

ABBREVIATIONS

AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic

ADT Average Daily Traffic

ACV Aggregate Crushing Value

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

BS British Standard

CBR California Bearing Ratio

CR Crushing Ratio

DCP Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

ESA Equivalent Standard Axle

FI Flakiness Index

LAA Los Angeles Abrasion

LL Liquid Limit

MC Moisture Content

MDD Maximum Dry Density

OMC Optimum Moisture Content

PL Plastic Limit

PI Plasticity Index

PM Plasticity Modulus = (PI * % passing 0.425mm sieve)

DMBR Design Manual for Bridges and Roads (2009)

SG Specific Gravity

SS Standard Specification for Road Construction

SSS Sodium Sulphate Soundness

TS Tensile Strength

VH Vibrating Hammer

v

Table of Contents

DECLARATION.....................................................................................................................i

DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. iii

ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................... iv

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1

1.1. Background information .............................................................................................. 1

1.2. Study justification ............................................................................................................ 2

1.2. Problem statement........................................................................................................ 3

1.3. Research objectives ...................................................................................................... 3

1.3.1. General objectives: ................................................................................................... 3

1.3.2. Specific objectives: ..................................................................................................... 3

1.4. Research hypothesis ..................................................................................................... 3

1.5. Research limitations ..................................................................................................... 4

Chapter 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 7

2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 7

2.2 Early Road Systems ......................................................................................................... 12

2.3 Pavement Design ............................................................................................................. 15

2.4 Flexible pavements. ......................................................................................................... 16

2.5 Load Distribution in flexible pavement. ........................................................................... 16

2.6. Traffic data and analysis. ................................................................................................. 17

2.6.1 Equivalent factors ................................................................................................. 18

2.6.4 Calculating the cumulative standard axles ............................................................. 19

2.6.5 Traffic class .......................................................................................................... 19

2.7 Basic Structural Elements of a road pavement .................................................................. 19

2.7.1 Sub grade .............................................................................................................. 20

2.7.2 Sub-base Course ................................................................................................... 20

2.7.3 Base Course .......................................................................................................... 21

2.7.4 Surface Course...................................................................................................... 21

vi

Chapter 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 23

3.1 Data collection ................................................................................................................. 23

3.1.1 Primary data ......................................................................................................... 23

3.1.2 Secondary data...................................................................................................... 24

3.2 Methods of pavement............................................................................................... 25

3.3 Data analysis .................................................................................................................... 25

3.4 Reporting ......................................................................................................................... 26

Chapter 4. DATA COLLECTION/ANALYSIS/RESULTS .................................................. 27

4.1 Traffic data collection and analysis .................................................................................. 27

Table 6 Three days’ traffic count data on Gachororo road ...................................................... 27

Table 7 Traffic data analysis .................................................................................................. 29

4.1.1. Annual growth rate of vehicles ..................................................................................... 31

Table 8 Number of registered vehicles from 2001 to 2015...................................................... 33

4.1.2. Annual growth rate of vehicles ..................................................................................... 35

4.1.3 Cumulative number of standard axles ............................................................................ 35

4.2. Materials investigation .................................................................................................... 35

4.2.1. Alignment soils ............................................................................................................ 35

Table 10 Sub grade Strength Class ......................................................................................... 39

4.2.2. Natural Materials for Base and Sub Base ...................................................................... 39

Table 11 Natural materials properties ..................................................................................... 40

4.2.3. Soft stone and quarry dust ............................................................................................ 40

Table 12 Soft stones and quarry waste ................................................................................... 41

4.2.4. Hard stones .................................................................................................................. 41

Table 13 Hard stones ............................................................................................................. 41

4.3. Rainfall data collection and analysis ................................................................................ 42

Table 14 Monthly total precipitation for Thika agro met station, Code 9137048 ..................... 43

Chapter 5. PAVEMENT DESIGN ......................................................................................... 45

5.1. General ........................................................................................................................... 45

5.2. Design Considerations..................................................................................................... 45

vii

5.2.1. Design Traffic Class ..................................................................................................... 45

5.2.2. Design Sub Grade Class ............................................................................................... 45

5.2.3. Internal Drainage of the Pavement Layers .................................................................... 45

5.2.4. Pockets of poor sub grade material ............................................................................... 45

5.3. Proposed Standard Pavement Structures .......................................................................... 46

Table 15 Proposed pavement structure ................................................................................... 47

5.4 Final Pavement Structure ................................................................................................. 48

5.4.1. Original Ground ........................................................................................................... 48

5.4.2. Sub Grade .................................................................................................................... 48

5.4.3. Sub base ....................................................................................................................... 48

5.4.4. Base ............................................................................................................................. 49

5.4.5. Surfacing AC ............................................................................................................... 49

5.4.6. Surfacing Wearing Course ............................................................................................ 49

5.4.7. Binder Selection ........................................................................................................... 49

5.4.8. Shoulders ..................................................................................................................... 50

5.4.9. Pavement Cross-Section ............................................................................................... 50

5.5. Mode of construction of pavement structure. ................................................................... 51

5.5.1 Subgrade construction. .................................................................................................. 51

5.5.2 Subbase construction ..................................................................................................... 51

5.5.3 Base construction .......................................................................................................... 51

5.5.4 Tact coat ....................................................................................................................... 52

5.5.5 Surface course construction ........................................................................................... 52

Chapter 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ..................................................... 54

6.1. Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 54

6.2. Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 54

6.3. Further study. .................................................................................................................. 54

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 55

ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................... 56

ANNEX 1: MAP OF JUJA; GACHORORO ROAD............................................................. 56

viii

ANNEX 2: TIME PLAN ...................................................................................................... 57

ANNEX 3: PROPOSED BUDGET AND COSTING ........................................................... 58

ANNEX4: ............................................................................................................................ 59

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 1 RUN 1 ......................................................................... 59

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 1 RUN 2 ......................................................................... 60

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 2 RUN 1 ......................................................................... 62

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 2 RUN 2 ......................................................................... 63

ANNEX5: ............................................................................................................................ 65

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 1 RUN 1 .......................................................................... 65

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 1 RUN 2 .......................................................................... 66

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 2 RUN 1 .......................................................................... 68

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 2 RUN2 ........................................................................... 69

ANNEX4: ............................................................................................................................ 71

CBR SAMPLE 1 RUN 1 ...................................................................................................... 71

CBR SAMPLE 1 RUN 2 ...................................................................................................... 73

CBR SAMPLE 2 RUN 1 ...................................................................................................... 75

CBR SAMPLE 2 RUN 2 ...................................................................................................... 77

ix

List of tables

Table 1 Table 1 Kenya roads network coverage in kilometers (Kenya roads boards) ...............7

Table 2 Description of road classes in Kenya (old classification) ...........................................7

Table 3 Description of rural roads (new classification) ...........................................................9

Table 4 Description of urban road classification (new classification) ................................... 11

Table 5 Road design manual part111, material and pavement design .................................... 19

Table 6 Three days’ traffic count data on Gachororo road ..................................................... 27

Table 7 Traffic data analysis ................................................................................................. 29

Table 8 Number of registered vehicles from 2001 to 2015 .................................................... 33

Table 9 Fuel levy from 2001 to 2015 .......................................................................................

Table 11 Sub grade Strength Class........................................................................................ 39

Table 12 Natural materials properties ................................................................................... 40

Table 13 Soft stones and quarry waste .................................................................................. 41

Table 14 Hard stones ............................................................................................................ 41

Table 15 Monthly total precipitation for Thika agro met station, Code 9137048 ................... 43

Table 16 Proposed pavement structure .................................................................................. 47

x

List of figures

Figure 1 Map ..........................................................................................................................2

Figure 2 Lorry on Gachororo road ..........................................................................................5

Figure 3 Lorry carrying excavated soils from construction site ...............................................5

Figure 4 Ndarugu quarry.........................................................................................................6

Figure 5 One of the school along Gachororo road ...................................................................6

Figure 6 roman road structures (Kendrick, 2004) .................................................................. 14

Figure 7 Road pavement layers ............................................................................................. 15

Figure 8 Soil layers along the road (both samples) ................................................................ 36

Figure 9 Tins +soil ready to be oven dried ............................................................................ 37

Figure 10 compaction machine ............................................................................................. 37

Figure 11 soil after compaction............................................................................................. 38

Figure 12 CBR test ............................................................................................................... 38

xi

Abstract

Pavement design of a road enables engineers to come up with pavement structure that is socio-

economically efficient and long lasting with the least discomfort to the people using it during

its design life.

A road pavement consists of multiple layers made of materials that may be different in nature

and strength. These materials act together as one in order to achieve their purpose.

The pavement design depends primarily on the traffic (both present and anticipated) and on

materials beneath the proposed road route and the available materials in the neighborhood.

Hence the need of a thorough materials investigation.

This study came up with a traffic analysis which classified the traffic on this road as traffic class

T3, material lab testing whose resulting revealed the presence of materials of class S3, and the

materials investigation which provided information on type, location and engineering properties

of materials that can be used for the construction of this road.

Using the above information and considering all cost and field conditions, a pavement structure

was designed.

The study came up with various combination of pavement structure from which the best was

selected, depending on the conditions in the field and the cost of construction.

1

Chapter One

INTRODUCTION

1.1.Background information

Roads are vital for socio-economic development, but construction, operating and maintenance

cost can be very expensive in cases where they are constructed in a rainy area but also if road’s

surface performs poorly.

A good road should be all-weather, and thus movement along it should not be affected by the

weather condition. It should be able to accommodate a wide range of climatic and traffic

conditions that roads are expected to endure.

Gachororo road covers a distance of about 2.5kilometers; it is unpaved and in very bad

condition. This road is situated on the right-hand side of JKUAT. It not only serves students

from the best technological university in Kenya but also the families that live or have businesses

along it and the construction industry developing in the surrounding.

It starts from JKUAT main gate (also called gate A), passes by the entrance of KCB Bank

JKUAT branch, goes to gate B then passes by the university gate D and its right end corner.

This road continues in the same direction passing a community (i.e. both families and students)

that live alongside it, the facilities they use such as schools, shops, supermarkets and continues

to both the quarry and river Ndarugu. Along the road, there are many shops, a market, farms

and many households.

The road not being tarmacked brings up health problems due to dust being inhaled by the

residents, difficulties of mobility and accidents (especially when it rains) and also high

maintenance cost of the moving entities that use this road.

Therefore, a thorough materials investigation and the design of the pavement structure would

help enhance the condition this important road in the most effective way possible once the

design is implemented.

2

Figure 1 Map

1.2. Study justification

Gachororo road is an unpaved road and has not been maintained in a very long period even

though other roads that join it at some point have. This is the case of the road joining High point

to Gachororo road, next to Gachororo School. The use of the road by heavy commercial vehicles

(carrying stones from the quarry, farm products and soils from different construction sites),

public service vehicles, pick-ups and the long periods of non-maintenance of the road have led

to deterioration of the condition of the road making it impassable especially during the wet

periods of the year.

The population of traffic using the road has increased due to the construction of Thika road

which attracts people and investments along its environs. Thika road has led to increase in

population of the university and that of the surrounding of the road which encourages massive

3

construction and use of more stones from the quarry and also opening of businesses which in

their turn attract traffic to this area.

These new developments and lack of maintenance have worsened the condition of Gachororo

road which if upgraded and maintained will ease the transportation and socio-economic

development, improve the quality of air that residents breathe but also the image and prestige

of JKUAT which is a globally well-known institution hence the need to upgrading it to

bituminous standards.

1.2.Problem statement

The lack of a pavement of this road is continuously producing dust that affect the health of

residents and pollute the environments, causing accidents due to vehicle sliding when it rains,

wearing up vehicles increasing their maintenance cost, increase both cost and time of travel due

to the poor road surface and impair the image of university that is known to the world to be one

of the best in the country and the region. The condition of this road goes against the Sustainable

Development Goals and the vision 2030, hence the need of upgrading it to bituminous road that

is the most economical and efficient through materials investigation and pavement design.

1.3.Research objectives

1.3.1. General objectives:

To design a pavement that best accommodates current and predicted future traffic needs in a

safe, durable and cost effective manner.

1.3.2. Specific objectives:

1. To estimate the daily number of vehicles on the road and hence the cumulative

number of standard axles.

2. To determine the California Bearing Ratio and the Plasticity Index of soil and other

construction materials along Gachororo road.

3. To design and recommend a suitable pavement structure for the project road.

1.4.Research hypothesis

The poor conditions on this road are due to poor or non-existent drainage facility, lack of a

bituminous standard and maintenance of the road.

4

Materials investigation and design of Gachororo road, if implemented, would help improve

poor road conditions, health condition, and socio economic condition in the area.

1.5.Research limitations

The limitation of the study includes

Inadequate time: this is due to the fact that the project is to be carried out concurrently

with other courses.

Limitation of funds: the funds available for this work are very small

Missing data: some data such as traffic count or materials properties maybe missing

from government agencies.

5

Figure 2 Lorry on Gachororo road

Figure 3 Lorry carrying excavated soils from construction site

6

Figure 4 Ndarugu quarry

Figure 5 One of the school along Gachororo road

7

Chapter Two

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

According to the Kenya roads board, the road network in Kenya is in total 160866km out of

which only 11189km are paved leaving the rest (149689km) as either gravel or earth roads.

(See table below)

Table 1 Table 1 Kenya roads network coverage in kilometers (Kenya roads boards)

Road class Paved(km) Unpaved(km) Total(km)

A 2,772 816 3,588

B 1,489 1,156 2,645

C 2,693 5,164 7,857

D 1,238 9,483 10,721

E 577 26,071 26,649

SPR 100 10,376 10,476

U 2,318 96,623 98,941

TOTAL 11,189 149,689 160,886

Table 2 Description of road classes in Kenya (old classification)

Class description Function

A International

Trunk Roads

Link centers of international importance and cross

international boundaries or terminate at international

ports or airports (e.g. Mombasa)

B National Trunk

Roads

Link nationally important centers (e.g. Provincial

headquarters)

C Primary Roads Link provincially important centers to each other or to

higher class roads (e.g. District headquarters)

8

Note that the above road classification is the old road classification of roads. It was developed

over 30 years ago and is defined by the functional criteria related to administrative level of

centers the road connects.

Below is the new classification of roads.

It consists of three broad groupings,

1. Arterial or trunk roads, comprising Superhighways (S roads), which are fully access

controlled motorways or toll roads, and the international (A roads), and the national

roads (B roads).

2. Collector roads, comprising the primary, inter-district C roads and the secondary, intra

district roads

3. Local, comprising the minor E, F, and G class roads.

D Secondary Roads Link locally important centers to each other, or to more

important centers or to a higher class road (e.g. divisional

headquarters)

E Minor Roads Any link to a minor centre

SPR G

L

R

S

T

W

Government Roads

Settlement Roads

Rural Access Roads

Sugar Roads

Tea Roads

Wheat Roads

U Unclassified All other public roads and streets

9

Table 3 Description of rural roads (new classification)

No. Road

class Class description

1 S

Highways connecting two nor more cities and designed to carry

safely large volumes of motor vehicles traffic at high speeds

through the use of grade separation using interchanges,

overpasses and underpasses. These roads would be

predominantly tolled.

Predominantly dual carriageways of at least two lanes in each

direction.

Having maximum access restrictions by imposing full control

access from adjacent properties and eliminating all cross traffic

with full grade separation

2 A

Road forming strategic routes and corridors, connecting

international boundaries and international terminals such as

international ports.

International routes should form a continuous connection with

strategic routes in adjoining countries; they include international

corridors recognized under the Tran-Africa Highway and East

African Road Networks.

A substantial part of the traffic carried will be long distance

movements including a high portion of heavy vehicles.

3 B

Roads forming important national routes, linking province

headquarters or other important centers to the capital to each

other or to Class A roads.

These roads usually cross province boundaries, but may link

several district towns within the same province.

A substantial part of the traffic is expected to comprise long

distance movements.

10

B class roads are likely to connect most towns with more than

25000 population not already connected by a class A road.

Roads should form a continuous network, together with class A

roads.

4 C

Roads linking district headquarters and other major designated

towns (usually with more than 10 – 25000 population0 to the

higher level network or to each other.

These roads usually cross existing district boundaries.

Predominant traffic volumes are expected to exceed 500ADT

and in some areas over 750 ADT, warranting a paved standard,

The roads are likely to carry a mix of both inter-district traffic

and local traffic channeled from lower level network.

Roads should form a contiguous network, together with a and B

roads

5 D

Roads forming routes of moderate length, linking divisional

headquarters and other minor towns (usually with between 2000

and 10000 population) to the district towns or higher level

network.

These roads usually cross existing division boundaries but not

district boundaries

Roads usually connect several markets and/or sub location

centers.

The main function of these roads is to channel local traffic from

lower level roads to higher level roads and centers; they are

likely to provide the main means of intra district movements in

areas not already served by higher level roads.

6 E

Roads linking one or more markets, location centers or sub

location centers to divisional centers or the higher level network

11

7 F

Roads serving groups of rural population of less than 4500 in

average density areas, without a market or a most one mirror

market, and usually will provide a connection to a sub location

centre, a more important market or the higher level network.

8 G Residual category for the large number of very local tracks and

access roads

Description of urban road classification (new classification)

Urban roads are all roads or sections of road captures in the road database that lie within a

municipal boundary. This definition applies to rural roads classes D, E, F and G and does not

apply to A, B, C class roads.

Classification of urban roads network adopts similar concept of functional hierarchical

grouping as used for rural roads, the urban road network consists of the following three

functional groupings which further provide the urban class hierarchy.

Table 4 Description of urban road classification (new classification)

Functional system Service provided

Arterial

Provides highest level of service at the

greatest speed for the longest uninterrupted

distance within a municipality, with access

control

Collector

Provides less highly developed level of

service at lower speed for shorter distances

by collecting traffic from local roads and

connecting them to arterials.

Local

Consists of all roads not defined as arterials

or collectors, primarily provides access to

residential, commercial or industrial areas

with tittles or no through movement.

12

The Kenyan Government has faced a various obstacles regarding the provision of adequate

transportation network; the leading one being inadequate financial resources for development

and maintenance of roads. This has led to poor road network especially in rural areas which

has caused high vehicle operating cost, high fares charged for public transport and unstable

delivery schedules. The inception of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) in 1993 and

the Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF) was meant to address the financial constraints facing

the road infrastructure; however, the fund is still not adequate to meet the demand. To

strengthen the institutional framework for road maintenance, restore accountability,

transparency and professionalism the government established the Kenya Roads Board (KRB)

in 1999 to manage RMLF and coordinate the maintenance rehabilitation and development of

the entire road network in Kenya. The KRB works in conjunction with other stakeholders such

as:

Kenya national highway authority (KENHA), which manages all road class A, B and C

Kenya rural road authority(KERRA), deal with local roads at constituency level

Kenya urban Roads Authority (KURA), Deal with Roads in city, municipalities and

major towns.

So as to address most of the problems that road transport is currently facing such as increased

road traffic, increased economic and social demands and deterioration of existing road due to

poor maintenance, the government has to fund the concerned agencies in order to enable them

to be fully operational.

2.2 Early Road Systems

The first forms of road transport were horses, oxen or even humans carrying goods over tracks

that often followed game trails. In the Stone Age humans did not need constructed tracks in op

en country. The first improved trails would have been at fords, mountain passes and through s

wamps. The first improvements would have consisted largely of clearing trees and big stones

from the path.

As commerce increased, the tracks were often flattened or widened to accommodate human an

d animal traffic. Some of these dirt tracks were developed into fairly extensive networks, allo

wing communications, trade and governance over wide areas.

13

The first goods transport was on human backs and heads, but the use of pack animals, including

donkeys and horses, developed during the Stone Age. The first vehicle is believed to have been

the travois, a frame used to drag loads, which probably developed in Eurasia after the first use

of bullocks (castrated cattle) for pulling ploughs.

As time goes by, pack animals, ridden horses and bullocks dragging travois or sleds required w

ider paths and higher clearances than people on foot and improved tracks were required. As a r

esult, by about 5000 BC, roads including the Ridgeway developed along ridges in England to a

void crossing rivers and bogging. In central Germany, such ridgeways remained the predomin

ant form of long-distance road till the mid-18th century.

Below are some of the oldest civilizations’ road:

(a) Chinese Civilization

One of the earliest and best known roads was the Chinese Silk Route which dates back to 2600

BC. The Chinese discovered the secret of silk weaving and sent this precious material by road

to India and returned with ivory tusks (Rakeman, 1823).

(b) Persian Empire

This was a great trading organization. Silk imported from China was re-exported to Europe

along the roads they had built. They also sold Chinese porcelain and precious wood ware

(Rakeman, 1823).

(c) Britain 2500 BC

Log-raft type of road has been discovered; this crosses the Somerset peat bogs to Glastonbury

dating back to 2500 BC. The Berkshire Ridgeway was used to bring flint axes and weapons

from Grimes Graves in Norfolk over the Chiltern and Berkshire Downs and Salisbury Plain to

Stonehenge (Rakeman, 1823)

(d) Mesopotamia and Egypt

Moving to the Middle East and forward in time to about 1100 BC, Syrian troops constructed a

new road through the mountains of northern Mesopotamia. Streets paved in asphalt and brick

have been found in the Cities of Nineveh and Babylon. The Egyptians built roads to cart the

stone required to construct the pyramids (Rakeman, 1823)

14

(e) Roman Roads

The Roman era was undoubtedly the greatest road building age not only in Britain but

throughout Europe. Five thousand miles of their superb highways stretched from Cadiz on the

west coast of Spain through France, Germany, Italy, and the Adriatic coast to Turkey, through

Syria at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, back along the north coast of Africa via

Alexandria, Carthage and so on to Tangier to complete the loop (Rakeman, 1823). Their roads

were renowned for their straightness but they were only straight in most cases between one hill

top and another, i.e. as far as the eye could see. There is less chance of ambush on a straight

road and the use of four wheeled wagons was not causing any problem. Roman roads were

generally constructed well above the ground level, being in some cases on embankments up to

2 m high. The first operation was to cut deep ditches or fosses (hence Fosse way) and then build

up an embankment with layers of chalk, flint, sand and gravel topped off with huge stone slabs.

Any marauder would have to cross the ditches and scrambles up the embankment first. Three

classes of road structure were used by the Romans; these were:

Levelled earth

Graveled surface

Paved (figure 1below)

Figure 6 roman road structures (Kendrick, 2004)

15

This conforms roughly with current road structure (i.e. four layers). The carriageway width

seldom exceeded 4.25metres (Peter Kendrich, 2004). The carriageway had drainage ditches on

each side. After the withdrawal of the Romans from Britain at the start of the fifth century AD

(AD 407) their road system fell into decay and disuse. As states developed and became richer,

especially with the Renaissance, new roads and bridges began to be built, often based on Roman

designs. This resulted into roman roads being considered as the bases of modern highway

engineering technology in use today.

2.3 Pavement Design

The purpose of pavement design is to limit/reduce the stress induced on the sub grade by the

traffic safe level at which sub grade deformation is insignificant while at the same time ensure

that the road pavement does not deteriorate to any serious extent within the lifetime it is

designed for.

By the nature of the type of material used for construction, it is impossible to design a road

pavement which does not deteriorate in some way with time and traffic. Hence the aim of

structural design is to limit the level of pavement distress, measured primarily in terms of riding

quality, rut depth and cracking to predetermined values (Powell et al,1984).

A road pavement consists of a number of layers with sub grade at the bottom, sub base, base

and surfacing on top.

Figure 7 Road pavement layers

16

A concrete pavement consists of a concrete slab laid on a sub-base or base which rests on sub

grade.

Pavement design aims at providing a pavement structure that will serve traffic safely,

conveniently and economically during the design life of that pavement. There are various types

of bituminous premixes used for roads surfacing:

Flexible premix which is designed to resist high flexural deformations. This pavement

with a bitumen bonded surfacing and road base.

Flexible Composite: The surfacing and upper road base are bituminous on a lower road

base of cement bound material

Rigid: Pavements with a concrete surface slab which can be un-reinforced, joint

reinforced or continuously reinforced.

Rigid Composite: continuously reinforced concrete slab with a bituminous overlay.

Although there has been considerable advance in the theoretical design of pavements, the

current road design work is based on empirical methods and design charts (AASHTO, 1986).

A design is carried out for each of the alternatives and then the most economical is chosen.

However, if for environmental or technical reasons one is impractical then it may be omitted.

2.4 Flexible pavements.

Flexible pavements are so named because the total pavement structure deflects, or flexes, under

loading. A flexible pavement structure is typically composed of several layers of

material. Each layer receives the loads from the above layer, spreads them out, and then passes

on these loads to the next layer below. Thus, the further down in the pavement structure a

particular layer is, the lower loads (in terms of force per area) it must carry (NPTEL, 2007).

In order to take maximum advantage of this property, material layers are usually arranged in

order of descending load bearing capacity with the highest load bearing capacity material

(which is the most expensive) on the top and the lowest load bearing capacity material (which

is the least expensive) on the bottom.

2.5 Load Distribution in flexible pavement.

Stresses (loads per unit area) from the vehicles travelling on the road are greater nearer the

surface; stronger materials are needed in the surfacing than in the lower layers. In addition,

17

there are lateral deflective forces caused by the pounding effects of heavy traffic. This has led

to the development various road layers with different properties.

Another factor of great importance is the surface profile. An uneven surface will not only be

unsuitable for the safe road travel, but will also cause greater, and variable stresses in the

pavement, leading to fatigue of the structure and shortening its life.

These two factors have led to the development of layered construction, the lower layers of

which are thicker and of cheaper materials, in order to provide the necessary spread of the load.

Each layer must be shaped and compacted as accurately as possible, the surface layer thus being

shaped into an accurate and even surface.

2.6. Traffic data and analysis.

When designing a new highway, the estimation of traffic levels is of central importance to the

structural design of the upper layers of the road pavement. Of particular importance is the

estimation of commercial vehicle volumes. Commercial vehicles are defined as those with an

unlade weight of 15kN. The damage due to these vehicles as compared to private cars is

negligible, hence termed as primary cause of structural damage to the highway pavement.

Road pavement design depends on the cumulative number of equivalent standard axles in its

design period. In order to determine this value a number of operations must be carried out.

The axle load distribution of the traffic which will use the road must be assessed,

These axle loads must be converted to equivalent number of standard 80KN axles,

The initial daily number of standard axles must be calculated,

An annual growth rate and design period must be selected,

The accumulated number of equivalent standard axles can thus be calculated and the

traffic class determined.

18

2.6.1 Equivalent factors

Axle load equivalent factors: The relationship below converts all single axle loads to equivalent

standard axles

EF= (Ls/80) 4.5

Where: -EF is the equivalent factor of the single axle considered

-Ls is the load in KN on the singe axle considered

The relationship above was derived from Liddle formulae

2.6.2 Estimation of the initial Daily number of commercial of commercial vehicle

It is necessary as the first step to estimate the average daily number of each type of commercial

vehicle that will use the road, in both directions during the first year. Due to fact that private

cars and light good vehicles do not contribute significantly to the structural damage of pavement

they may be ignored but in the case of Gachororo road, they won’t be.

It is essential that the traffic count data differentiate between buses, medium goods and heavy

goods. In addition, on trucks the counting should indicate whether or not a heavy good vehicle

is an oil tanker and the number of axles.

2.6.3 Estimation of cumulative number of standard axles

To estimate the total number of standard axles to be catered of by the design, it is necessary to

forecast the annual growth rate of traffic and to decide what the design period will be.

a) Forecasting and annual growth rate: this is a difficult and uncertain task. It can be done

by studying the annual tread in traffic growth indicated by census regularly carried out in the

region concerned, also from study of the regional and national development plans. In regions

where data is not available, national trend of number of vehicles registered or the fuel

consumption or the gross national product (GNP) or rather the gross domestic product (GDP)

can a be used to estimate growth rate of traffic.

b) Choice of a design period: The concept of design period should not be confused with

pavement life. At the end of design period the pavement will not be completely worn out or

have deteriorated to the point that reconstruction is needed. During the design period, only

ordinary maintenance will be carried out i.e. shoulder and drainage system maintained,

19

vegetation control localized patching and periodic resealing. For roads designed according to

Kenya road dosing manual should have a design period of 15 years as stage construction is

preferred.

2.6.4 Calculating the cumulative standard axles

The cumulative number of standard axles, T over the chosen design period N (in years) is then

obtained by:

𝑻 = 𝟑𝟔𝟓𝑿𝐭𝟏 (𝟏+𝐢)𝑵−𝟏

𝒊

Where: 𝒕𝟏 is the average daily number of standard axles.

i is the annual growth rate expressed as a decimal fraction.

2.6.5 Traffic class

Traffic flow and axle-load survey have shown that the following class satisfactory account for

all the traffic categories likely to be carried by the bituminous loads in Kenya.

Table 5 Road design manual part111, material and pavement design

Class Cumulative number of standard axle

T1 25 million-60 million

T2 10 million-25 million

T3 3 million-10 million

T4 1 million-3 million

T5 0.25 million-1 million

2.7 Basic Structural Elements of a road pavement

A typical flexible pavement structure consists of the surface course and the underlying base and

sub-base courses. Each of these layers contributes to structural support and drainage. The

surface course is the stiffest and contributes the most to pavement strength. The underlying

layers are less stiff but are still important to pavement strength as well as drainage and frost

protection. A typical structural design results in a series of layers that gradually decrease in

material quality with depth. The layers include:

20

2.7.1 Sub grade

Also referred to as basement soil, the sub grade is that portion of the roadbed consisting of

native or treated soil on which surface course, base, sub base, or a layer of any other material

is placed.

It is the foundation of the road. In a cut-section, it is the layer 300mm below the finished sub-

grade level (formation) or if it is an embankment, it may also be the layer 300mm below the

finished level of the embankment. It has to be compacted at 95% MDD.

The sub-grade may be composed of either in-place material that is exposed from excavation, or

embankment material that is placed to elevate the roadway above the surrounding ground.

It carries the whole weight of the pavement plus the traffic loads. Therefore, the soil should be

of adequate strength.

The sub grade though not part of pavement is very important (quality wise) in any pavement

design as it effect the thickness of the various layers of the pavement and also determine the

rate at which some road distress like rutting occur.

The strength of the subgrade is determined using deflection modulus but due to complexity of

the procedure for obtaining it, a much simpler method called the California Bearing Ratio

(CBR) test is the most commonly used. The CBR depend on the type of soil, density and

moisture content (usually four-day soak) of the soil.

2.7.2 Sub-base Course

This is unbound or treated aggregate or granular material that is placed on the sub grade as a

foundation or working platform for the base. It is placed between the base course and the sub-

grade. It functions primarily as structural support but it can also:

Minimize the intrusion of fines from the sub-grade into the pavement structure.

Improve drainage.

Minimize frost action damage.

Provide a working platform for construction

Most of the time the sub-base is of lower quality materials than the base course but better than

the sub-grade soils. It can be ignored in some cases. For instance, a pavement constructed over

a high quality sub grade (CBR > 35) or where it is more cost effective to build a thicker base

21

layer. However, a pavement constructed over a low quality soil such as swelling clay may

require the additional load distribution characteristic that a sub-base course can offer. In this

scenario the sub-base course may consist of high quality fill used to replace poor quality sub-

grade (over excavation).

2.7.3 Base Course

Select, processed, and or treated aggregate material that is placed below the surface course. Its

functions include the following;

It provides additional load distribution

Contributes to drainage and frost resistance.

provide a good shaped and regular surface on which to lay the relatively thin wearing

course

Base may be one or multiple layers treated with cement, asphalt or other binder material, or

may consist of untreated aggregate. The type of material used for a base course is selected

according to the intensity of traffic loading expected, whilst the nominal size of the stone (20,

28 or 40 mm) depends on the thickness of the layer. The thicker the base course, the larger the

stone size.

In new construction, the thickness of the base course is usually between 45 mm and 105 mm.

Where a base course is laid as a regulating course, however, to strengthen an existing road

structure, the thickness may vary considerably.

2.7.4 Surface Course

The upper layer also called the wearing course, mostly made of asphalt and aggregate mixture

and some and other admixture like lime or fines. Its functions include;

provide a durable skid-resistant surface;

protect the pavement from the effects of the weather like rainfall and frost which may

penetrate and cause destruction to other pavement under laying layers like the sub base

and the sub base

withstand the effects of abrasion and stresses from the traffic;

Provide a good regular shaped running surface.

22

The surface course is the layer in contact with traffic loads and normally contains the highest

quality materials. A wide variety of bituminous materials is used for wearing courses, laid in

thicknesses ranging normally from 25-40 mm, important points in new construction are the

additional strength which the wearing course may add to the pavement and the extent to which

it forms an impervious layer over the construction

The surface course may be composed of a single layer, constructed in one or more lifts of the

same material, or multiple layers of different materials (NAPA, 2001). This top structural layer

of material is sometimes subdivided into two layers (NAPA, 2001):

a. Wearing Course. This is the layer in direct contact with traffic loads. It is meant to take

the major of traffic wear and can be removed and replaced as it becomes worn. A

properly designed preservation program should be able to identify pavement surface

distress while it is still confined to the wearing course. This way, the wearing course

can be rehabilitated before distress propagates into the underlying intermediate/binder

course.

b. Intermediate/Binder Course. This layer provides the bulk of the pavement

structure. Its chief purpose is to distribute load.

23

Chapter Three

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This work mainly consisted of two phases. The first phase was the collection of data and the

other the analysis and design depending on the analyzed data.

3.1 Data collection

The data collection was based on soil tests, field survey, and rainfall data from Kenya

meteorological department and traffic counts. Two types of data were collected:

3.1.1 Primary data

It was collected afresh and for the first time from the field, it will include;

a) Traffic count data; The data showing the annual average daily traffic data(AADT) of the

road and the axle road distribution of axle loading of the traffic using the road at the year of

design.

b) Samples testing; Samples of materials from several sections along the road as well as

potential borrow sites were collected, taken to material laboratory, prepared and then tested

according to the required standards. The various tests carried out are;

California bearing ratio (CBR) test. The test was conducted on the road reserve at

intervals of 1km.A portion of material that was obtained by riffling or quartering, and

large enough to provide 5.5kg of material passing a 20mm BS test sieve for each test.

The CBR of the sample being the relationships between the penetrations of cylindrical

plunger of cross-section area of 1935mm that penetrate the soil at a given rate. At any

rate the ratio of the force to the standard force was defined as the CBR. The force at

2.5mm penetration, after the necessary correction on the curve of load on the plunger

verses penetration of the plunger was expressed as a percentage of the standard force-

13.24KN and at 5mm penetration of 19.96KN. The greater of the two was reported as

the CBR of the specimen.

After the determination of the dry density and CBR at each level of compaction a graph

of CBR against dry density was plotted. Compaction at other points of 95% and 90%

24

were determined from this graph. The obtained CBR value was used together with the

traffic class to design the pavement.

Plastic limit test PL. This is the moisture content below which a soil ceases to behave in

a plastic manner. The test was carried out on soil obtained in its natural form. It was

dried to near its plastic limit by air-drying, molded into a ball and rolled between palms

of the hands. When the soil was near its plastic limit, a thread of about 6mm and 50mm

long was rolled over the surface of a smooth glass plate between the fingers of one hand

with backward and forward movement and just enough rolling pressure was applied to

reduce the thread to a diameter of 3mm. The test was repeated until the thread crumble

or shear both longitudinally and transversally at 3mm diameter.

Liquid limit test. This was carried out by use of definitive cone penetration method. The

test consists of a 300cylidrical cone with a sharp point and a smooth polished surface

and a total mass of 80 g that was allowed to fall freely into a cup of a very moist soil

which was near or just below its liquid limit. The liquid limit of the soil is taken as the

penetration of 20mm.The alternative method which can be used is the cassagrande

method, but this method is more prone to errors and gives less reproducible results when

compared with the cone penetration test.

3.1.2 Secondary data

This is data that have been collected and passed through the statistical process. This will

include;

a) Traffic data for the road from Kenya bureau of statistics. The fuel levy and the new

vehicle registration data for the past fifteen years.

b) Rainfall data; the rainfall data for the area on which the pavement is to be designed was

obtained from the meteorological department. It did include the maximum monthly 24 hours’

rain depth for a period of 29 years (1985 to 2014).

c) Borrow pit data: This data contained borrow pit information (type, engineering properties,

and source location of different materials) that are used by the Kiambu County for road

construction.

25

3.2 Methods of pavement.

The design was mainly based on the Kenya road design manual part III; materials and pavement

design for new roads which was supplemented with other design methods like various

international road note from Transport research laboratory based in United Kingdom and the

United States of America. The road notes included;

Road note 29 and 31 Guides for structural design of bituminous surface roads in the

tropical and sub-tropical countries

Road note 40 A guide to axle loading and traffic count for determining traffic loading

on the pavement.

Road note 19 A guide to the design of hot mix asphalt in tropical and sub-tropical

countries.

The American highway design manual in conjunction with the AASHTO design codes.

3.3 Data analysis

Various methods were used in data analysis during the design periods. Empirical formulas were

also used for traffic count data analysis, these included;

Liddle formula: EF= (Ls/80) 4.5

Where: -EF is the equivalent factor of the single axle considered

-Ls is the load in KN on the singe axle considered.

Cumulative standard axles: 𝑇 = 365𝑡1 {(1+𝑖)𝑁−1

𝑖} Where N is the design period in

years, t1 is initial average no. of Standard Axles, and i is annual growth Rate as a decimal

fraction.

The following are some of the assumptions made so as to use these formulae:

The personal car and light weight vehicles cause no damage to the pavement as only

heavy commercial and medium weight vehicles are used in computation of cumulative

standard axles.

No traffic will be diverted from another road to this road once it is constructed.

The analytical and empirical methods of data analysis and pavement design will not be used

due to the fact that the software to be used analysis and design is not available during the time

of the study due to the high cost.

26

3.4 Reporting

The reports for the test to be carried out were given in standard table form and the necessary

graphs were plotted. The report showed;

The method of testing adopted

The errors of the test if any and the source of such errors and how they would have been

collected.

The challenges encountered during the test.

27

Chapter Four

DATA COLLECTION/ANALYSIS/RESULTS

4.1 Traffic data collection and analysis

The traffic census data for this road was not available from the Ministry of Transport. Therefore,

specific traffic counts on Gachororo road was conducted so as to ascertain traffic intensity. The

count differentiated between cars and 4WDs, mini buses, buses, light good, medium goods, and

heavy goods vehicle and water tankers. Out of these categories of vehicles only the last four

were used for structural pavement design purposes. This is because they are the ones susceptible

to cause considerable damage to the road once constructed.

The data obtained in three-day traffic count for both directions of movement was as follows:

Table 6 Three days’ traffic count data on Gachororo road

Days Time

Cars

and

4WDS

Minibuses Buses Light

good

vehicles

Medium

good

vehicles

Heavy

good

vehicles

Oil

tankers

(8-

30seaters)

(>30) (2axles) (3-

4axles)

(2-

4axles)

Tuesday

7-8 19 3 6 4 1 0 0

8-9 33 6 3 7 6 1 0

9-10 26 6 1 11 9 1 1

10-11 43 8 1 8 8 9 0

11-12 29 9 3 16 17 6 2

12-13 48 11 1 13 13 5 1

13-14 30 1 0 19 21 8 3

13-14 50 3 6 23 21 9 0

14-15 34 1 11 8 20 8 1

15-16 34 6 5 12 21 5 1

16-17 41 13 7 8 11 2 0

17-18 29 11 2 5 4 0 2

28

Wednesday

7-8 21 4 2 6 5 0 0

8-9 23 5 2 8 7 3 0

9-10 25 6 2 9 8 5 1

10-11 26 5 1 10 11 4 2

11-12 27 5 4 13 20 9 1

12-13 28 3 5 11 21 2 0

13-14 26 2 6 11 20 5 0

13-14 28 4 6 9 16 11 0

14-15 24 6 5 6 13 8 0

15-16 22 6 5 6 12 5 1

16-17 20 6 4 5 7 1 0

17-18 17 5 2 5 5 1 0

Thursday

7-8 20 4 1 7 6 3 0

8-9 21 4 1 8 10 5 0

9-10 23 4 2 9 13 5 1

10-11 20 5 5 6 12 5 1

11-12 18 5 4 5 9 7 0

12-13 16 5 3 5 7 6 0

13-14 22 4 4 6 12 7 0

13-14 19 5 4 5 9 6 2

14-15 17 5 3 4 7 3 0

15-16 17 4 2 5 5 2 0

16-17 20 6 4 6 7 1 1

17-18 20 5 2 7 6 0 0

Average

daily

312 64 42 102 134 53 7

The traffic considered as having significant damage to road pavement structure are buses,

medium goods, heavy goods vehicles and oil/water tankers and hence these are used in

29

calculation of vehicle equivalent factors used in pavement design. Buses included all

passengers’ vehicles seating more than 9 persons while medium goods were two axle goods

vehicle of more than 15kN weight. Heavy goods vehicle included all goods vehicle having more

than two axles.

The table below shows the field data count data analysis for vehicles to be considered in the

pavement design.

Table 7 Traffic data analysis

Days Time Buses Medium

good vehicles

Heavy good

vehicles

Water

tankers

(>30) (2axles) (3-4axles) (2-4axles)

Tuesday 7-8 6 1 0 0

8-9 3 6 1 0

9-10 1 9 1 1

10-11 1 8 9 0

11-12 3 17 6 2

12-13 1 13 5 1

13-14 0 21 8 3

13-14 6 21 9 0

14-15 11 20 8 1

15-16 5 21 5 1

16-17 7 11 2 0

17-18 2 4 0 2

Wednesday 7-8 2 5 0 0

8-9 2 7 3 0

9-10 2 8 5 1

10-11 1 11 4 2

11-12 4 20 9 1

12-13 5 21 2 0

30

13-14 6 20 5 0

13-14 6 16 11 0

14-15 5 13 8 0

15-16 5 12 5 1

16-17 4 7 1 0

17-18 2 5 1 0

Thursday 7-8 1 6 3 0

8-9 1 10 5 0

9-10 2 13 5 1

10-11 5 12 5 1

11-12 4 9 7 0

12-13 3 7 6 0

13-14 4 12 7 0

13-14 4 9 6 2

14-15 3 7 3 0

15-16 2 5 2 0

16-17 4 7 1 1

17-18 2 6 0 0

Average daily

traffic

42 134 53 7

Equivalent

factor

1 1 4 4

Equivalent

standard axles

42 134 212 28

The average vehicle equivalent factor is obtained from table 2.3.1 of the road design manual

part III. In this case, it was found to be equal to 416.

31

4.1.1. Annual growth rate of vehicles

The annual average growth rate of the vehicle on the road was estimated by averaging the

growth rate of the number of vehicles registered and the fuel levy within the last fifteen years

(from 2001 to 2015).

From the table above it was observed that the average annual growth rate on vehicles

registration was 12.29% and 9.98% on fuel levy which come to an average of about 11.14%.

The data was obtained from the central bureau of statistics and is tabulated as per below:

33

Table 8 Number of registered vehicles from 2001 to 2015

Time(years) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015*

Saloon Cars 8,258 10,534 9,709 12,628 14,216 14,829 17,893 18,686 16,930 16,165 11,026 12,985 16,343 15,902 14,369

Station

Wagons 4,733 6,746 8,032 8,863 10,158 12,631 24,115 24,747 27,599 37,553 31,199 39,862 48,662 53,542 54,120

Panel Vans,

Pick-ups, etc 4,747 5,834 6,819 7,042 6,308 6,721 9,470 8,983 7,120 6,975 7,442 7,945 9,819 12,568 13,878

Lorries/Trucks 1,283 1,919 2,069 2,461 3,113 3,610 6,329 6,691 6,037 4,924 5,247 7,821 9,570 10,681 13,785

Buses and

Coaches 490 407 667 872 885 856 2,006 1,243 1,057 1,264 1,662 1,638 2,062 2,210 2,342

Mini

Buses/Matatu 3,598 3,996 2,854 4,405 4,076 3,714 4,252 5,206 4,483 3,600 451 78 235 213 581

Trailers 603 503 861 1,112 1,351 1,706 2,193 2,100 2,883 2,379 2, 556 3,761 3,973 2,925 3,905

Wheeled

Tractors 575 678 663 829 856 920 1,213 1,262 1,115 1,161 1,179 1,386 1,902 2,032 2,259

Other vehicles 176 111 149 152 195 505 488 797 2,575 3,648 2,724 1,753 1,451 2,533 2,522

Total Motor

Vehicles

registered

24,463 30,728 31,823 38,364 41,158 45,492 67,959 69,715 69,799 77,669 60,930 77,229 94,017 102,606 107,761

% growth 25.61 3.56 20.55 7.28 10.53 49.39 2.58 0.12 11.28 -21.55 26.75 21.74 9.14 5.02

Table 9 Fuel levy from 2001 to 2015

Time(years) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005* 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015*

Road Maintenance

Fund (Mksh) 7,836 7739 9045 8980 9160 14814 17999 19000 21180 22918 24100 24370 23,229 25792 26229

Average -1.24 16.88 -0.72 2 61.72 21.5 5.56 11.47 8.21 5.16 1.12 -4.68 11.03 1.69

35

4.1.2. Annual growth rate of vehicles

The design period for the road adopted is fifteen years as stage construction was anticipated.

This type of construction provides an opportunity to choose the structural characteristic of

second stage in the light of actual condition, which may differ substantially from those

originally foreseen.

4.1.3 Cumulative number of standard axles

Cumulative standard axles: 𝑇 = 365𝑡1 {(1+𝑖)𝑁−1

𝑖}

Where N is the design period in years,

t1 is initial average no. of Standard Axles, and

i is annual growth Rate as a decimal fraction?

𝑇 = 365x416x {(1+

11.14

100)

15−1

0.1114}= 5280817.878vehicles

The above number of vehicles,5.28million in 15 years, is within the range 3-10 million vehicles

which classifies the road as a T3 road class.

4.2. Materials investigation

4.2.1. Alignment soils

Trial pits were dug from the road shoulders and sampled at intervals of 900and 1800m along

the entire road length. The trial pits were dug to approximate depth of 1.0m below ground level.

A representative sample (after removal of top soils) was obtained from each trial pit and taken

for further laboratory testing. The main test carried on sub grade material was the California

Bearing Ratio (CBR) test. The actual CBR of a Sub grade material depends on the type of

material, its density and moisture content. Complete knowledge of the relationship between

density, moisture content and CBR was obtained by carrying test on representative samples of

the Sub grade material encountered. Before the CBR test is carried out on the subgrade the

compaction test on subgrade materials is carried out to ascertain that the pavement can be

carried out on sub grade CBR test only.

36

The other lab tests to which the samples were subjected are:

i) Atterberg Limits

ii) Linear Shrinkage

iii) Standard Compaction Test (AASHTO T99)

Below is the structure of the trial pits.

Figure 8 Soil layers along the road (both samples)

37

The collected samples were taken to the JKUAT soil and foundation lab where different tests

were carried.

Figure 10 compaction machine Figure 9 Tins +soil ready to be oven dried

38

Figure 11 soil after compaction

Figure 12 CBR test

39

The table below shows the engineering properties of the collected samples which constitute

the road the subgrade.

Table 10 Sub grade Strength Class

Performed test Sample 1 Sample 2

Atterberg limits Run 1- Run 2 Run 1- Run 2

Liquid limit (%) 34.6-36.2 31-33.4

Plastic limit (%) 21.28-21.49 19.33-22.31

Plastic index (%) 13.32-14.71 11.09-11.67

Shrinkage (%) 6.60-7.68 7.68-6.68

Compaction test Run 1- Run 2 Run 1- Run 2

Optimum moisture content (%) 1.39-1.60 1.53-1.65

Maximum dry density(Kg/𝒎𝟑) 22-24.6 20.1-20.4

California Bearing Ratio (%) 22.39-22.77 20.59-20.78

The average CBR of both (22.58 and 20.68) being within the range of 15 to 30%, then the soil

class is S5.

4.2.2. Natural Materials for Base and Sub Base

Natural gravel sources in the project area are nearly exhausted. The economically exploitable

lateritic gravels that existed in the area, (Bound by Ngewa, Ruiru and Gatundu in Kiambu and

Roysambu on Nairobi - Thika Road and even further to the east of that area) have been in use

in earlier road construction and maintenance in Kiambu County and Thika road.

There are a few places where these materials can still be found though (see table below)

40

Table 11 Natural materials properties

Ref.No Location Material PI PM CBR

(%) at

95%

MDD)

OMC

(%)

MDD

(kg/m3)

Distance

to the

site(Km)

6469/35/L/1

Tola quarry

Gatundu

Gravel

16 368 35 19 1790

6466/35/L/1 Ruiru

17 544 13 18 1690 9.1

M6133/35/L/1 Gatundu

north

Gravel 23 989 2 18 1570 24

M6468/35/L/1

Kango'ki

quarry in

Thika

Gravel

18 468 26 15 1770 24

00468/S/16 Ruiru Gravel 21 231 55 1765 9.1

4.2.3. Soft stone and quarry dust

The geology of the last half of project area and the area bound by Ngewa, Ruiru and Roysambu

on Nairobi - Thika Highway is comprised of Tuffs evidenced by various points of excavation

of building stone.

The tuffs are being excavated for building at Zimmerman, Kangaita Farm, Juja farm, Karweti

and Kanjai (the last two on the banks of Ruiru River) and other places.

Samples of quarry wastes were taken from MS1 at Zimmerman and Ngomongo, on left hand

side of Kamiti Road near Githurai 2Km from Roysambu on Road A2 and at Kangaita Farm

which is at Km 2 from Ruiru Town on, and to the left of the Ruiru - Ngewa Road C65. Samples

of soft stone were also taken at two locations on the banks of the Ruiru River.

The six soft stone locations which were investigated and sampled are listed below together with

their engineering properties such as plastic index(PI), Plasticity Modulus(PM), California

Bearing Ratio(CBR) but also the location distances to the road site.

41

Table 12 Soft stones and quarry waste

Quarry waste Neat Improvement (2.5%)

Borrow pits PI PM CBR (%) at

95% MDD)

CBR Distance to the

site(Km)

Zimmerman 19 675 47 22

Ngomongo 17 473 47 26

Kangaita 16 434 62 39

Kangaita 17 735 58 39

Karweti 12 420 25 152 34

Kanjai 14 504 19 75 30

Ngong quarry 16 336 45 56

4.2.4. Hard stones

Hard stone of sufficient quality for use in the construction of the project road can be found in

two locations: Juja farm quarry and in Mlolongo area east of Nairobi, where commercial

production of crushed stone for aggregates and for GCS.

The hard stones were sampled from both quarries and tested for the following:

i) Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA);

ii) Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV);

iii) Sodium Sulphate soundness (SSS);

iv) Bitumen Affinity (BA).

Table 13 Hard stones

Location Aristocrat quarry in Mlolongo Juja farm quarry

Distance to site(Km) 37 12

LAA 17.2 28.2

ACV 12.5 26.8

SSS(%) 8.8 3.6

Bitumen affinity Good

42

4.3. Rainfall data collection and analysis

The rainfall data for the area on which the road is to be designed was obtained from the Thika

Agromet station, code 9137048 through the Kenyan meteorological department.

43

Table 14 Monthly total precipitation for Thika agro met station, Code 9137048

YEAR JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPT OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

1985 4.5 101.8 145.6 402.1 58.5 10.9 2 0 5.2 58.4 105.6 20.5 915.1

1986 15.9 0 122 346.1 125.2 12.1 1.2 1.1 1.5 44.5 244.3 73.1 987

1987 5.7 5.6 6.3 159.1 102.5 137 18.6 33.9 0 2.8 119.8 18.6 609.9

1988 42.1 19.1 174.7 271.3 119.1 48.4 14.1 8.6 35.2 46.4 136.2 189.8 1105

1989 165.6 34.1 56.7 275.1 80.9 0 29.7 23 49.6 109.3 155.2 127.7 1106.9

1990 68 79 318.5 268.9 97.3 3.6 3.3 4.1 61.4 72.2 178.2 172.4 1326.9

1991 67.7 6.2 98 195.2 141 17.8 2.7 7.4 0.3 40.8 157.5 61.2 795.8

1992 4.6 0.5 13.6 324.2 78.3 7.4 31.8 1.7 5.3 32.9 173.1 110.2 783.6

1993 162.8 129.7 11.6 78.3 86.5 0 4 1.6 3.8 40.7 193.2 87.7 799.9

1994 0 28 54.7 187.3 56.8 9.7 5.6 20.3 6.2 167.9 318.3 56.2 911

1995 11.4 49.2 129.9 153.7 40 10.7 6.2 31 3.6 171.2 137.3 162.5 906.7

1996 20.8 76.4 161.4 52.1 49.6 36.3 28.7 1.5 0.2 0 375.2 63.1 865.3

1997 0 0 59.3 487.2 91.8 9.8 1.8 63.6 0.9 238.8 416.6 229 1598.8

1998 344.7 236.1 181.4 176.4 356.5 131.9 61.7 8 2.7 10.5 92.5 13 1615.4

1999 9.7 2.6 0 264.3 10.3 2.3 21.8 11.1 2.6 29.1 318.8 221.6 894.2

2000 3.5 0 18.8 74.9 29.4 5 5.9 2.2 7.9 11.5 136.1 62.1 357.3

44

2001 358.4 32.7 170.2 106 66.5 4.6 0.8 16.1 1.7 48.7 233.2 20.7 1059.6

2002 16.3 22.1 227.5 313.4 250.5 3.7 2.2 5.5 80.2 83.1 137.7 243.1 1385.3

2003 14.2 3 93.5 215.9 254.3 1 3.6 17.3 0 83.3 180.9 44.2 911.2

2004 53.5 74.7 47.9 376.2 120.9 1.2 0 0 20.9 78.2 93.3 98.7 965.5

2005 21.4 25.1 52.3 0 259.2 0 7.5 0 5.5 38.1 154.3 2.1 565.5

2006 647.7

2007 30.8 102.9 24.1 239.3 85.2 3.3 14.7 13.7 20.2 55.9 114.2 25.6 729.9

2008 104.8 27.1 100.4 271.1 7.4 6.4 28.3 0 0 0 0 0 545.5

2009 49.3 19 51.5 173.7 91.1 10.1 1.1 1.7 0 134.5 119.2 94.2 745.4

2010 138.3 113.5 209.5 176.1 152.4 24.9 4.8 6.3 1.3 98.5 153 80.6 1159.2

2011 10.8 47.9 0 109.6 71.2 50.3 1 10.7 39.4 135.2 177.2 63.2 716.5

2012 0 20.9 0 248.5 179.4 38.1 7.9 41.4 19.9 49.9 177.1 0 783.1

2013 73.3 0 239.7 425.6 20.6 9.1 4 6.9 83.7 14 111.5 54.7 1043.1

2014 0 96.3 134 97.2 0 35.9 0 34.9 0 19.7 0 0 418

Average 908.4767

45

Chapter Five

PAVEMENT DESIGN

5.1. General

The pavement design has been carried out to obtain an optimal structure that would ensure

that the designed road, when operating, will be able to carry the expected traffic loading

over the design life of the road. This objective would be achieved by specifying locally

available materials for construction and observing standards that will ensure minimum

maintenance. The ToR stipulates pavement design horizon of 15 years.

Pavement design has been based on the recommendations stipulated in Road Design

Manuals Parts III (Materials and Pavement Design for New Roads), Standard Specifications

for Road and Bridge Construction as well as Overseas Road Note 19 and any other relevant

standards.

5.2. Design Considerations

5.2.1. Design Traffic Class

From traffic survey analysis, pavement traffic class T3 has been adopted for pavement

design exercise of Gachororo Road.

5.2.2. Design Sub Grade Class

Road Design Manual Part III provides guidelines for classification of sub grade soils for

pavement design based on CBR. From the performed laboratory tests, the soils in the project

area were found to belong soils class S5. These results tally with the expected soil

classification of lateritic gravel (Soil class S5 or S6) that compose the subgrade of this road.

5.2.3. Internal Drainage of the Pavement Layers

The particular materials in the sub base and base layers will extend across the shoulders to

the side slope to facilitate efficient internal drainage of the pavement.

5.2.4. Pockets of poor sub grade material

Where during the construction stage pockets of poor sub grade materials are encountered,

such material shall be replaced with suitable ones or may require individual design

considerations based on the existing site conditions to ensure adequate support for the

pavement.

46

5.3. Proposed Standard Pavement Structures

From the traffic class consideration of T3 for the entire design road, and a class S5 sub

grade, an S5-T3 pavement structure is hereby proposed. The locally available road

construction materials found within the project vicinity comprise mainly of gravels and hard

stones.

After considering sub grade soil & traffic classifications for the road section and availability

of construction materials, we came up with four possible Standard Pavement Structures in

the Road Design Manual Part III, which include Types 3, 6, 7 and 9. The details of each of

the proposed pavements are highlighted below:

47

Table 15 Proposed pavement structure

No. Layer Type 2 Type 6 Type 7 Type 9

1 Wearing

course

50mm thick AC type II extended to

shoulders.

Triple surface dressing Same as for type 2 Same as for type 2

2 Base

150mm thick, >2.5% cement improved

gravel compacted in a single layer to at

least 95% MDD T180.

200mm thick, 0/40mm GCS compacted in

single layer to 98% MDD (V.H) extended

to shoulders

150mm thick, 0/40mm GCS compacted in

single layer to 98% MDD (V.H) extended

to shoulders

150mm thick, 0/40mm GCS

compacted in single layer to 98%

MDD (V.H) extended to shoulders

3 Sub Base

150mm thick, lateritic gravel

compacted in a single layer to at least

95% MDD T180, PI max 15, Pm max

250

150mm thick, lateritic gravel compacted

in a single layer to at least 95% MDD

T180, PI max 15, Pm max 250.

150mm thick, 2% cement improved gravel

compacted to 95%MDD (T180) extended

to shoulders.

150mm thick, 0/40mm Neat GCS

compacted in single layer to 98%

MDD (V.H) extended to shoulders.

4 Sub Grade 300/450 mm thick, compacted in single

layers of 150mm to 100% MDD T99.

Same as for type 2 Same as for type 2 Same as for type 2

5 COM-

MENTS

Impervious, fairly economical but has

insufficient strength and poor

resistance to attrition of the base

material. Also require close control

during construction.

Impervious, fairly economical but has

insufficient strength and poor resistance to

attrition of the base material. Also require

close control during construction.

Superior pavement structure than type 3,

easy control.

Both the base and sub base highly

pervious, uneconomical relative to

locally available gravel.

48

With the above considerations, we opted to adopt Pavement Type 6 but with a modification

on the base layer.

Graded crushed stones are hard stones that have been crushed and graded i.e. getting

percentages of quantities of crushed stones that passed different sizes of stones. The

availability of this material is a problem since it can only be obtained from Mulolongo which

is far away from the road site(52km).

From the Road Design Manual for Bridges and Roads (2009), in its section 7.4.6.2., there

is a provision for use of hand packed stones as a base material.

Where the soaked CBR of the roadbed material is ≥ 5% (95% BS Light) the recommended

thickness of the stone packed surface is 150mm. If the CBR value is even lower a thickness

of 200mm is recommended. (DMBR,2009).

Due to its softness and low stability, experience have shown that surfacing of AC type II is

bound to fail by rutting under severe traffic loads and shall hence be replaced with a high

stability and more stable rut resistant AC type I.

In addition, it was recommending that a three seal surface dressing of 10/14mm pre-coated

chippings be used so as to improve on the skid resistance for the braking traffic based on

the expected operating traffic speeds and seal the voids in the open textured type I AC.

5.4 Final Pavement Structure

The following pavement details were therefore adopted for the construction of Gachororo

Road:

5.4.1. Original Ground

Since the onsite underlying material is of sufficient quality, it shall be used without any

improvement, as the road subgrade.

Note that the small layer of black cotton soil shall be scrapped off before compaction is

done.

5.4.2. Sub Grade

The existing gravel base material together with imported material shall compacted in two

layers of 150mm each. In widening and shoulders, the sub grade shall be 450 mm thick.

5.4.3. Sub base

The material for sub grade construction shall be imported lateritic gravel from the borrow

pit in Ruiru then compacted. The sub grade shall be compacted in layers each of 150 mm

49

thickness, to 100% AASHTO T99 MDD at OMC. This should be in conformity with the

criteria for natural material for sub base laid down in Chart SB1 of RDM III.

5.4.4. Base

The Base layer will consist of hand-packed stones compacted (with heavy machinery to

refusal density at a moisture content close to the optimum.

5.4.5. Surfacing AC

The surfacing layer will be 50 mm thick Asphalt Concrete Type 1 which will comply with

the criteria laid down in Chart S2a of RDM III and Tables 5.2 & 6.4 of ORN 19:

Stone Class B

Binder - Bitumen Grade

80/100 Primer - MC 70

Tack Coat - K160

5.4.6. Surfacing Wearing Course

To ensure adequate skid resistance by braking traffic and sealing off of surface water from

ingress into the pavement, we propose a Wearing Course consisting of a Triple Seal Surface

Dressing to the carriageway, to comply with the design criteria laid down in Charts S1a and

S1e of RDM III.

Chippings Size - 10/14mm

Chippings Class - 2 Binder - MC 3000

5.4.7. Binder Selection

Binder selection was undertaken as per recommendations of Overseas Road Note 3: A

Guide to Surface Dressing in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Countries as well as Road Design

Manual Part III- Pavement Design for New Roads.

The correct choice of bitumen for surface dressing work is critical. The bitumen must full

fill the following requirements:

a) Be capable of being sprayed

b) Wet the road surface in a continuous film

c) Not run off a cambered road or form pools of binder in local depressions

d) Wet and adhere to the chippings at road temperature

e) Be strong enough to resist traffic forces and hold the chippings at the highest

prevailing ambient temperatures.

50

f) Remain flexible at the lowest ambient temperature, neither cracking nor

becoming brittle enough to allow traffic to pick off the chippings

g) Resist premature weathering and hardening

The following factors must also be taken into account in selecting an appropriate binder:

a) The road surface temperature at the time the surface dressing is undertaken.

b) The nature of the chippings i.e. whether dusty or clean.

c) The characteristics of the road site.

d) The type of binder handling and spraying equipment.

e) Availability of binders.

The choice of MC 3000 as binder is in consideration of the prevailing low road temperatures

in the range of 10-25° C experienced in the project area. Chart S1b of RDM III recommends

K1-60 and MC 3000 as preferred and alternative binders respectively for a cool + wet

climate with a temperature range of 18-45°C. Temperatures experienced in the project area

are much lower than this, and ORN 19 recommends the use of cut back grades of bitumen

at lower road temperatures.

The viscosity of the binder is recommended to be in the range of 104 and 7x105 centistokes.

MC 3000 grade cutback is normally the most fluid binder used for surface dressing and is

basically an 80/100 penetration grade bitumen blended with cutter (kerosene or diesel).

Trials for the road temperatures prevailing in Kenya in figure 3 of ORN 19 shows that

between 2 and 10 per cent of diesel oil was required to modify 80/100 pen bitumen to

produce binders with viscosities within the recommended range for use.

5.4.8. Shoulders

The Road Design Manual Part III provides for a shoulder surfacing of double surface

dressing on a GCS base. However, due to the wet climate in the project region, it would be

better to extend the carriageway surfacing into the shoulders. The shoulder pavement (in

this case hand packed stones) shall therefore be extended carriageway pavement layers.

5.4.9. Pavement Cross-Section

It was proposed that the road Cross Section Type C be used with the following parameters:

Carriageway width: 7.0m

Shoulders width: 1.5m

Cross fall: 2.5% and 4% slopes for carriage way and shoulders respectively.

51

5.5. Mode of construction of pavement structure.

5.5.1 Subgrade construction.

The Subgrade on site have a CBR value of between 15-30%. The material should be

scarified using a grader with ripper spread and compacted using a grader and compacted to

attain the CBR at 95% maximum dry density(MDD).

Field test should be carried out during the construction to certify that the density specified

is achieved. This will be carried out using field sand replacement test or nuclear density test.

5.5.2 Subbase construction

Subbase material will be made of natural lateritic gravel. The material which is to be

excavated from Ruiru quarry will be transported to the road using Lorries and dumped on

top of the subgrade. The material will then be spread using a grader, then compacted at

optimum moisture contact to achieve 95% MDD and a CBR of 30%.

The compaction will be carried out using the steel drum roller which can generate a

minimum force of 14 tones. Too large layer should be avoided so that the required MDD

may be achieved and too small layer should also be avoided as this may lead to lamination

of subbase material.

5.5.3 Base construction

The base will be made of hand packed stones from Juja farm and transported to the various

point on the road by use of tipper lorries. Hand-packed stones compacted with heavy

machinery (both double and single drum steel roller) to refusal density at a moisture content

close to the optimum. After setting out the finished road line and level, a 250mm wide by

200mm deep trench is excavated to accommodate kerbstones along each edge of the road.

The minimum triaxle dimensions of kerbstones should be 400, 200 and 100mm. The

smallest face of each kerbstone is dressed so that it is flat and approximately perpendicular

to the longest axis. The kerbstones, placed in the trench with their longest axis vertical and

smallest face uppermost, are firmly bedded and laid to the final road level. The trench is

backfilled with moist, well compacted excavated material to firmly anchor the kerbstones

in position. Supplementary drainage measures should be provided to prevent any ingress of

water through the surface from becoming trapped behind the kerbstone edge support where

it would otherwise penetrate the roadbed causing it to soften and loose strength and the

hand-packed stone surface to deform and ultimately fail.

52

Figure 13 Hard stones as base material

5.5.4 Tact coat

A tact coat of light bituminous binder of medium curing cut-back MC 3000 will be used as

binder; this is due to the fact that it will be applied on cemented road base surface.

The rate of spraying of the medium curing cut-back MC 3000 will be 0.5l/m2. The spraying

should be done on a clean surface 48 hours prior to lying of the asphalt concrete layer.

5.5.5 Surface course construction

The surface layer will be made of asphalt concrete layer. The thickness of the compacted

asphalt layer is more than 50mm which is the maximum thickness that can be effectively

compacted be plants available in Kenya. The surface layer mix design will be carried out

using Marshall Mix design method. The batching and mixing of asphalt concrete will be

done in the asphalt batching plant which is to be located near the aggregate crushing plant.

Transportation of the asphalt concrete from batching plant to the point of placement is to be

done using tippers. Bituminous materials must be transported in clean vehicles and must be

covered over when in transit or waiting tipping. The use of dust, coated dust, oil or water

on the interior of the vehicles to facilitate discharge of the mixed materials is permissible

but the amount shall be kept to a minimum, and any excess shall be removed by tipping and

brushing.

The mixed material must be supplied continuously to the paver and laid without delay. The

rate of delivery of material to the paver must be so regulated as to enable the paver to be

operated continuously. Wherever practicable, material must be spread, levelled and tamped

by approved self-propelled pavers.

53

Material must be uniformly compacted as soon as rolling can be effected without causing

undue displacement of the mixed material and must be completed while the temperature of

the mixed material is greater than the minimum rolling temperature. Rolling is continued

until all roller marks have been removed from the surface. Compaction must be carried out

using 8-10 tones deadweight smooth wheeled rollers having a width of roll not less than 450

mm, or by vibratory rollers or a combination of these. Wearing course materials are always

to be surface finished with a smooth wheeled non-vibrating roller. The material must be

rolled in a longitudinal direction with the driven rolls nearest the paver. The roller should

first compact the material adjacent to any joints and then work from the lower to the upper

side of the layer overlapping on successive passes by at least half the width of the rear roll.

Sample of asphalt concrete will be collected from the field to carry out various tests such as

marshal stability test, bituminous coating and stripping, maximum specific gravity,

quantitative extraction of bitumen.

54

Chapter Six

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1. Conclusions

A modified type 6 pavement structure was adopted for the construction of Gachororo road

with details comprising of the following:

a) Surfacing: 50mm AC type I with 10/14mm chippings to the carriage way.

b) Base Course: 150mm thick hand packed stones compacted in single layer, with

lateritic gravel filling the void between the hard stones and extended to

shoulders.

c) Sub-base: 150mm thick, lateritic gravel compacted in a single layer to at least

95% MDD T180, PI max 15, PM max 250.

d) Sub Grade: 300/450mm compacted to 100% MDD (T99) in layers of 150mm

each.

e) Earthworks: Remove any dumped materials, overburden, black cotton soil and

any unsuitable soil and replace with approved fill material. The earthworks shall

be compacted to 95% MDD (T99) in layers of 150 mm or as may be directed

by the Engineer.

6.2. Recommendations

1. The road should be maintained regularly for it to serve the intended purpose.

2. The road should never be over worked and stressed with heavy loaded tracks and a

weigh bridge should be put in place to check.

6.3. Further study.

The survey work on the road

Geometric design of the road

Material design for surface dressing

55

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Arthur Wignall and Peter S. Kendrick: Roadwork theory and practice 4th edition. Planta

Tree Ltd Great Britain.

2. Bent Thagesen, Highway and traffic engineering in developing countries, technical

university of Denmark, E and FN Spon London.

3. B.S.1377-4 1990, Methods of test for soil for civil Engineering purposes.

4. Chandola S.P (2001), A Textbook of Transportation Engineering, 1st Edition Rajendra

Ravindra Printers Ltd, New Delhi.

5. Gichaga, F.J. and Parker N.A (1988), Essentials of Highway Engineering. Macmillan

Publishers, Hong Kong.

6. G. N Smith and Ian G.N Smith, Element of soil mechanics. Blackwell publishing Ltd

London.

7. Kenya Bureau of Statistics

8. Martin Rogers, Highway engineering, Blackwell publishing ltd London

9. Overseas road notes 31 4th Edition, a guide to the structural design of bitumen –surface

roads in tropical and sub-tropical countries.

10. Overseas road note 40, a guide to axle load survey and traffic count for determining

traffic loading on pavement.

11. Overseas road note 29 4th Ed, a guide to the structural design of bitumen –surface roads

in tropical and sub-tropical countries.

12. Road design manual, part I Geometric design of rural road materials and pavement

design for new roads.

13. Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, 2009 edition

14. Road design manual, part III materials and pavement design for new roads

15. V.N.S Murthy, Geotechnical Engineering principles and practices of soil mechanics and

foundation engineering. Marcel Dekker Inc. Singapore

56

ANNEXES

ANNEX 1: MAP OF JUJA; GACHORORO ROAD.

57

ANNEX 2: TIME PLAN

JAN FEB MAR APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG

Briefing and allocation

of supervisors

Title Presentation

Literature Review

Project Proposal

Presentation

Research

Data Collection

Data Analysis and

Conclusion

Report writing

Final Project

Presentation

58

ANNEX 3: PROPOSED BUDGET AND COSTING

S/No. DESCRIPTION

QUANTITY TOTAL COSTING

(Ksh)

1. Travelling and transportation

costs

Costs per mileage 2130

2. Traffic count personnel 100 per hour 3days (12

hours /day)

3600

3. Labor material sampling 500 x 2trial pits 1000

4. Overall 1400 1400

5. Stationery material 2 notebooks @ 150 300

6. Printing costs 1200 1200

7. Spiral binding 3@100 each 300

8. Blank CD 1CD@30shs. 30

Total 9960

59

ANNEX 4:

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 1 RUN 1

Cone Penetrometer Method

Specimen No sample

1

Run 1 Date

Type of Test Liquid Limit Plastic Limit

Test Run No 1 2 3 4 1 2

Intial Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

0 0 0 0

Final Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

21.4 15.7 23.9 17.3

Cone Penetration

mm

21.4 15.7 23.9 17.3 - -

Tin No 29 36 30 28 34 38

Wt of Tin + Wet Soil, ma (g) 28.03 36.25 24.57 36.82 21.88 26.89

Wt of Tin + Dry Soil, mb (g) 22.93 30.67 20.78 29.65 20.88 26.18

Wt of Tin only, mc (g) 9.52 16.2 9.4 9.42 16.22 22.88

Moisture Content, w (%) 38.03 38.56 33.30 35.44 21.46 21.52

36.2 21.49

Pen

(mm)

Moisture (%)

15.7 38.56

17.3 35.44

21.4 38.03

23.9 33.30

60

Linear Shrinkage SUMMERY

Mould No. 3 Liquid Limit (%)

=

36.2

Initial Length of Specimen,

mm

137.8 Plastic Limit (%)

=

21.49

Final Length of Specimen,

mm

128.7 Plasticity index 14.71

Change in Length, ∆L, mm 9.1 Linear Shrinkage

(%)=

6.60

Linear Shrinkage, % 6.604

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 1 RUN 2

Cone Penetrometer Method

sample 1 Run 2 Date

Type of Test Liquid

Limit

Plastic Limit

Test Run No 1 2 3 4 1 2

Intial Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

0 0 0 0

Final Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

18.1 20.5 23.6 26.4

Cone Penetration mm 18.1 20.5 23.6 26.4 - -

33.00

34.00

35.00

36.00

37.00

38.00

39.00

15.0 16.0 17.0 18.0 19.0 20.0 21.0 22.0 23.0 24.0 25.0

mo

istu

re c

on

ten

t

Penetration(mm)

Moisture content vs penetration

61

Tin No 55 60A 9A 11 6 11

Wt of Tin + Wet Soil, ma (g) 26.37 28.09 19 32.89 20.37 25.15

Wt of Tin + Dry Soil, mb (g) 24.08 25.85 18.1 27.5 19.82 23.3

Wt of Tin only, mc (g) 16.25 19.86 15.88 12.15 17.39 14.02

Moisture Content, w (%) 29.25 37.40 40.54 35.11 22.63 19.94

34.6 21.28

Pen

(mm)

Moisture

(%)

18.1 29.25

20.5 37.40

23.6 40.54

26.4 35.11

Linear Shrinkage SUMMERY

Mould No. 4 Liquid Limit (%) = 34.6

Initial Length of Specimen,

mm

140.0 Plastic Limit (%) = 21.28

Final Length of Specimen,

mm

129.25 Plasticity index 13.32

Change in Length, ∆L, mm 10.75 Linear Shrinkage (%)= 7.68

Linear Shrinkage, % 7.679

25.00

27.00

29.00

31.00

33.00

35.00

37.00

39.00

41.00

43.00

16.0 18.0 20.0 22.0 24.0 26.0 28.0

mo

istu

re c

on

ten

t

Penetration(mm)

Moisture content vs penetration

62

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 2 RUN 1

Cone Penetrometer Method

sample 2 Run 1 Date

Type of Test Liquid Limit Plastic Limit

Test Run No 1 2 3 4 1 2

Intial Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

0 0 0 0

Final Dial Gauge Reading,

mm

17.2 19.6 22.4 25.1

Cone Penetration mm 17.2 19.6 22.4 25.1 - -

Tin No 31 33 20 22 39 12

Wt of Tin + Wet Soil, ma (g) 24.89 29.42 22.72 32.37 21.82 23.07

Wt of Tin + Dry Soil, mb (g) 23.82 27.62 20.21 27.74 20.9 20.98

Wt of Tin only, mc (g) 18.47 21.6 14.2 13.4 15.27 13.59

Moisture Content, w (%) 20.00 29.90 41.76 32.29 16.34 28.28

33.4 22.31

Pen

(mm)

Moisture

(%)

17.2 20.00

19.6 29.90

22.4 41.76

25.1 32.29

25.00

27.00

29.00

31.00

33.00

35.00

37.00

39.00

41.00

43.00

16.0 18.0 20.0 22.0 24.0 26.0 28.0

mo

istu

re c

on

ten

t

Penetration(mm)

Moisture content vs penetration

63

Linear Shrinkage SUMMERY

Mould No. 4 Liquid Limit (%) = 33.4

Initial Length of Specimen,

mm

140.0 Plastic Limit (%) = 22.31

Final Length of Specimen,

mm

129.25 Plasticity index 11.09

Change in Length, ∆L,

mm

10.75 Linear Shrinkage (%)= 7.68

Linear Shrinkage, % 7.679

ATTERBERG LIMITS SAMPLE 2 RUN 2

Cone Penetrometer Method

sample

2

Run 2 Date

Type of Test Liquid Limit Plastic Limit

Test Run No 1 2 3 4 1 2

Intial Dial Gauge Reading, mm 0 0 0 0

Final Dial Gauge Reading, mm 16.8 18.5 21.5 23.9

Cone Penetration mm 16.8 18.5 21.5 23.9 - -

Tin No 8c 31 4A 10 41 62A

Wt of Tin + Wet Soil, ma (g) 24.97 27.6 19.57 31.9 21.22 23.07

Wt of Tin + Dry Soil, mb (g) 23.72 26.12 18.1 27.5 20.42 21.48

Wt of Tin only, mc (g) 16.26 19.37 12.44 12.88 14.39 15.22

Moisture Content, w (%) 16.76 21.93 25.97 30.10 13.27 25.40

31 19.33

Pen

(mm)

Moisture

(%)

16.8 16.76

18.5 21.93

21.5 25.97

23.9 30.10

64

Linear Shrinkage SUMMERY

Mould No. 4 Liquid Limit (%) = 31

Initial Length of Specimen, mm 140.0 Plastic Limit (%) = 19.33

Final Length of Specimen, mm 129.25 Plasticity index 11.67

Change in Length, ∆L, mm 10.75 Linear Shrinkage (%)= 7.68

Linear Shrinkage, % 7.679

25.00

27.00

29.00

31.00

33.00

35.00

37.00

39.00

41.00

43.00

16.0 18.0 20.0 22.0 24.0 26.0 28.0

mo

istu

re c

on

ten

t

Penetration(mm)

Moisture content vs penetration

65

ANNEX 5:

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 1 RUN 1

THE STANDARD COMPACTION TEST

Sample

1

Date:

Run 1

Diameter of Mould (cm) 10 Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5

Height of Mould (cm) 12 Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30

Volume of Mould (cm3) 942.86 Hammer Blows per Soil

Layer

25

Weight of Mould (g) 4165.6 Number of Layers in Mould 3

Test Run No. 1 2 3 4 5

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 5647.9 5744.7 5818.9 5820.1 5804.7

Wet Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.57214 1.6748 1.7535 1.75477 1.73844

Moisture Content (%) 18.47 21.87 26.86 28.74 30.26

Dry Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.32706 1.37426 1.38226 1.363 1.33455

Moisture Determination

Tin No 30 9 28 34 36

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 113.11 155.29 129.31 170.1 207.5

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 96.94 129.11 103.93 135.76 163.06

Tin only mc, g 9.38 9.40 9.43 16.29 16.22

Moisture Content % 18.467 21.870 26.857 28.744 30.264

m.cont,

%

dry density

18.47 1.327

21.87 1.374

26.86 1.382

28.74 1.363

30.26 1.335

66

Maximum Dry

Density(g/cm3)=

1.39

Optimum Moisture Content

=

24.6 %

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 1 RUN 2

THE STANDARD COMPACTION TEST

sample

1

Date:

Run 2

Diameter of Mould (cm) 10 Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5

Height of Mould (cm) 12 Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30

Volume of Mould (cm3) 942.86 Hammer Blows per Soil

Layer

25

Weight of Mould (g) 4032.9 Number of Layers in Mould 3

Test Run No. 1 2 3 4 5

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 5619.3 5736.1 5901.2 5854.2 5786.3

Wet Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.682545 1.80642 1.98153 1.93168 1.85967

Moisture Content (%) 15.42 17.03 22.05 26.06 31.63

Dry Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.457735 1.54352 1.623489 1.53241 1.41277

1.320

1.330

1.340

1.350

1.360

1.370

1.380

1.390

1.400

17.00 19.00 21.00 23.00 25.00 27.00 29.00 31.00

Dry

den

siti

es

Moisture conetent(%)

DD vs Mc

67

Moisture Determination

Tin No 11 23 6 4 3

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 137.28 142.33 193.81 226.01 158.33

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 120.72 123.16 160.35 181.049 124.42

Tin only mc, g 13.34 10.61 8.63 8.49 17.22

Moisture Content % 15.422 17.032 22.054 26.055 31.632

m.cont,

%

dry density

15.42 1.458

17.03 1.544

22.05 1.623

26.06 1.532

31.63 1.413

Maximum Dry

Density(g/cm3) =

1.6

Optimum Moisture Content = 22 %

1.350

1.400

1.450

1.500

1.550

1.600

1.650

12.00 17.00 22.00 27.00 32.00 37.00

Dry

den

siti

es

Moisture conetent(%)

DD vs Mc

68

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 2 RUN 1

THE STANDARD COMPACTION TEST

sample

2

Date:

Run 1

Diameter of Mould (cm) 10 Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5

Height of Mould (cm) 12 Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30

Volume of Mould (cm3) 942.86 Hammer Blows per Soil

Layer

25

Weight of Mould (g) 3887.2 Number of Layers in Mould 3

Test Run No. 1 2 3 4 5

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 5647.9 5744.7 5818.9 5820.1 5804.7

Wet Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.86741 1.97008 2.04877 2.05005 2.03371

Moisture Content (%) 14.69 18.57 24.81 31.50 35.66

Dry Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.62826 1.6616 1.64152 1.55893 1.49916

Moisture Determination

Tin No 6A 12 19 22 5

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 141.4 131.25 193.81 226.01 158.33

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 125 112.36 157 173.9 121.24

Tin only mc, g 13.34 10.61 8.63 8.49 17.22

Moisture Content % 14.687 18.565 24.810 31.504 35.657

m.cont, % dry density

14.69 1.628

18.57 1.662

24.81 1.642

31.50 1.559

35.66 1.499

69

Maximum Dry

Density(g/cm3)=

1.65

Optimum Moisture Content = 20.1 %

COMPACTION TEST SAMPLE 2 RUN2

THE STANDARD COMPACTION TEST

sample

2

Date:

run 2

Diameter of Mould (cm) 10 Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5

Height of Mould (cm) 12 Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30

Volume of Mould (cm3) 942.86 Hammer Blows per Soil

Layer

25

Weight of Mould (g) 4103.8 Number of Layers in Mould 3

Test Run No. 1 2 3 4 5

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 5670.8 5767.6 5841.8 5843 5827.6

Wet Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.66197 1.76464 1.84333 1.84461 1.82827

Moisture Content (%) 14.99 16.56 19.78 22.28 25.96

1.480

1.500

1.520

1.540

1.560

1.580

1.600

1.620

1.640

1.660

1.680

12.00 17.00 22.00 27.00 32.00 37.00

Dry

den

siti

es

Moisture conetent(%)

DD vs Mc

70

Dry Density of Soil

(g/cm3)

1.44535 1.51395 1.53893 1.50852 1.45141

Moisture Determination

Tin No 17 2 13 8 34

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 188.92 229.36 127.43 147.22 123.75

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 166.97 200.61 109.28 122.98 100.54

Tin only mc, g 20.51 26.98 17.52 14.18 11.15

Moisture Content % 14.987 16.558 19.780 22.279 25.965

m.cont,

%

dry density

14.99 1.445

16.56 1.514

19.78 1.539

22.28 1.509

25.96 1.451

Maximum Dry

Density(g/cm3)=

1.53

Optimum Moisture Content

=

20.4 %

1.440

1.460

1.480

1.500

1.520

1.540

1.560

14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00 24.00 26.00 28.00

Dry

den

siti

es

Moisture conetent(%)

DD vs Mc

71

ANNEX4:

CBR SAMPLE 1 RUN 1

THE STANDARD COMPACTION FOR CBR TEST

Sample 1 Date: Run 1

Type of Mould in Use CBR

Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5 Diameter of Mould (cm) 15

Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30 Height of Specimen (cm) 12.7

Number of Layers in Mould 3 Volume of Mould (cm3) 2245.18

Hammer Blows per Soil Layer 62 Weight of Mould (g) 6989.20

Initial moisture content

Tin No 38 29

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 84.17 66.73

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 78.08 60.89

Tin only mc, g 22.87 9.52

Moisture Content % 11.03 11.37

AVG MC 11.2 Initial MC(w1) 11.2%

Comparison with Standard Compaction Results:

MDD = 1.39

OMC = 24.6

water to be added to soil= (OMc-Initial Mc) xqty of soil/ (100+initial Mc)

=

662

Compaction

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 10436.8

Wet Density of Soil (g/cm3) 1.535557146

72

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8

Dia

l R

ea

din

g (

Div

)

Penetration (mm)

Penetration vs dial reading

Testing Stage

Penetration (mm) Dial

Reading

0 0

0.1 0

0.5 2.1

1.0 7

1.5 10

2.0 13

2.5 15

3.0 17

3.5 19

4.0 21

4.5 22.5

5.0 24

5.5 25.5

6.0 27

6.5

7.0 29

7.5 30

CBR VALUE

Ring Factor

(kg/Div) 19.2604

Test penetration

(mm)

2.5

Proving ring

reading (Div)

15

Test Load

(kg)

288.906

Standard Load

(kg)

1370

CBR Value

(%)

21.0880292

73

CBR SAMPLE 1 RUN 2

sample 1 Date:

Run 2

Type of Mould in Use CBR

Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5 Diameter of Mould

(cm)

15

Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30 Height of Specimen

(cm)

12.7

Number of Layers in Mould 3 Volume of Mould

(cm3)

2245.18

Hammer Blows per Soil Layer 62 Weight of Mould (g) 6989.20

Initial moisture content

Tin No 12 21

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 61.47 98.53

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 57.54 87.85

Tin only mc, g 22.21 9.14

Moisture Content % 11.12 13.56

AVG MC 12.34 Initial MC(w1) 12.34%

Comparison with Standard Compaction Results:

MDD = 1.6

OMC = 22

water to be added to soil= (OMc-Initial Mc)xqty of soil/(100+initial Mc)

=

472

Compaction

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 10365.8

Wet Density of Soil (g/cm3) 1.50393

74

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8

Dia

l R

ea

din

g (

Div

)

Penetration (mm)

Penetration vs dial reading

Testing Stage

Penetration

(mm)

Dial

Reading

0 0

0.1 0.4

0.5 2.5

1.0 4.8

1.5 7.1

2.0 9.6

2.5 12.7

3.0 14.9

3.5 16.8

4.0 18.4

4.5 20.3

5.0 23.6

5.5 25.2

6.0 26.7

6.5 27.9

7.0 29.4

7.5 31.7

CBR VALUE

Ring Factor

(kg/Div)

19.2604

Test

penetration

(mm)

2.5 5.0

Proving ring

reading

(Div)

12.7 23.6

Test Load

(kg)

244.60708 454.545

Standard Load

(kg)

1370 2030

CBR Value

(%)

17.85453139 22.3914

75

CBR SAMPLE 2 RUN 1

sample

2

Date:

Run 1

Type of Mould in Use CBR

Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5 Diameter of Mould

(cm)

15

Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30 Height of Specimen

(cm)

12.7

Number of Layers in Mould 3 Volume of Mould

(cm3)

2245.18

Hammer Blows per Soil Layer 62 Weight of Mould (g) 6989.20

Initial moisture content

Tin No 10 34

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 54.87 92.36

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 51.13 82.12

Tin only mc, g 6.46 16.23

Moisture Content % 8.37 15.54

AVG MC 11.955 Initial MC(w1) 11.96%

Comparison with Standard Compaction Results:

MDD = 1.65

OMC = 20.1

water to be added to soil=(OMc-Initial Mc)xqty of soil/(100+initial Mc)

=

399

Compaction

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 10296.3

Wet Density of Soil (g/cm3) 1.47299

76

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8

Dia

l R

ea

din

g (

Div

)

Penetration (mm)

Penetration vs dial reading

Testing Stage

Penetration

(mm)

Dial

Reading

0 0

0.1 0.5

0.5 3

1.0 6.5

1.5 8

2.0 10.7

2.5 13

3.0 14.6

3.5 16

4.0 17

4.5 18.5

5.0 21.9

5.5 24.9

6.0 26

6.5 27.1

7.0 28.1

7.5 29.1

CBR VALUE

Ring Factor

(kg/Div)

19.2604

Test

penetration

(mm)

2.5 5.0

Proving ring

reading

(Div)

13 21.9

Test Load

(kg)

250.3852 421.803

Standard

Load

(kg)

1370 2030

CBR Value

(%)

18.27629197 20.7785

77

CBR SAMPLE 2 RUN 2

sample

2

Date:

Run 2

Type of Mould in Use CBR

Weight of Hammer (kg) 2.5 Diameter of Mould

(cm)

15

Free Fall of Hammer (cm) 30 Height of Specimen

(cm)

12.7

Number of Layers in Mould 3 Volume of Mould

(cm3)

2245.18

Hammer Blows per Soil Layer 62 Weight of Mould (g) 6989.20

Initial moisture content

Tin No 22b 19d

Tin + Wet Soil ma, g 49.35 62.18

Tin + Dry Soil mb, g 46.22 56.26

Tin only mc, g 21.69 12.53

Moisture Content % 12.75 13.53

AVG MC 13.14 Initial MC(w1) 13.14

Comparison with Standard Compaction Results:

MDD = 1.53

OMC = 20.4

water to be added to soil=(OMc-Initial Mc)xqty of soil/(100+initial Mc)

=

352

Compaction

Wt of Mould + Soil (g) 10434.3

Wet Density of Soil (g/cm3) 1.53443

78

Testing Stage

Penetration

(mm)

Dial

Reading

0 0

0.1 0.7

0.5 2.8

1.0 5.1

1.5 7.6

2.0 10.2

2.5 12.9

3.0 14.6

3.5 16.4

4.0 17.8

4.5 19.3

5.0 21.7

5.5 23.5

6.0 26.1

6.5 28.3

7.0 29.6

7.5 31.4

CBR VALUE

Ring Factor

(kg/Div)

19.2604

Test

penetration

(mm)

2.5 5.0

Proving ring

reading

(Div)

12.9 21.7

Test Load

(kg)

248.45916 417.951

Standard

Load

(kg)

1370 2030

CBR Value

(%)

18.13570511 20.5887

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8

Dia

l R

ea

din

g (

Div

)

Penetration (mm)

Penetration vs dial reading