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WisDOT construction studies

Asphalt pavement | Concrete pavement | Pavement design | Pavement monitoring | Pavement management | Erosion control | Noise barriers | Other

The Pavements Section in WisDOT's Bureau of Highway Construction conducts studies and evaluations on pavements, erosion control, noise barriers and other subjects. Files are in Adobe PDF format .

Asphalt pavement reports

Title: Layer Coefficients for New and Reprocessed Asphaltic Mixes (901 KB)
Date: January 2007
Report Number: WI/SPR-04-00
The objective of this study was to determine layer coefficients for selected types of asphalt mixtures used in Wisconsin. Based on the resilient modulus values measured, different layer coefficients were proposed for recycled and reprocessed asphaltic materials, while similar layer coefficients were recommended for all asphalt mixtures. However, laboratory testing showed significant variances in the rutting behavior of asphalt mixtures, which can contribute differently to pavement performance. Thus, researchers recommended that the proposed layer coefficients be used with caution. Researchers also proposed a method that can combine resilient modulus values with other damage factors to derive layer coefficients.

Title: Evaluation Of The Interlayer Stress-Absorbing Composite (ISAC) To Mitigate Reflective Cracking In Asphaltic Concrete Overlays (1.1 MB)
Date: November 2004
Report Number: WI-09-04
In this experimental project, a product called the Interlayer Stress-Absorbing Composite (ISAC), a reflective cracking retardant, was installed and evaluated. The ISAC material was placed over cleaned and sealed transverse joints prior to placement of an asphaltic overlay. During placement of the overlay, directly after rolling operations, bumps were visible along the transverse edges of the ISAC fabric; thus, the overlay and the ISAC fabric were removed and the test section was repaved without the ISAC. 

Title: Tire Rubber in Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements (5.2 MB)
Date: May 2004
Report Number: WI-06-02
This study evaluates (1) the effectiveness of a rubberized asphalt binder mixed with a virgin aggregate gradation for use as an overlay and/or a stress absorbing interlayer, and (2) the recyclability of a reclaimed asphaltic pavement (RAP) containing tire rubber.

Title: Evaluation of Techniques for Asphaltic Pavement Longitudinal Joint Construction, (1.8 MB)
Date: November 2003
Report Number: WI-08-03
This study evaluates the ten-year performance of longitudinal asphalt joints constructed with the use of eight different techniques. Density results and ten-year performance evaluation of the test sections show that the wedge joint constructed by steel side roller wheel and tag-along roller perform the best. Worker comments indicated it is much easier to construct the wedge joint with the steel side roller wheel than with the tag-along roller.

Title: Glassgrid Pavement Reinforcement Product Evaluation, (1.9 MB)
Date: April 2003
Report Number: FEP-03-03
In 1990 GlasGrid, a glass-fiber mesh reinforcement material, was laid across transverse joints and cracks in jointed portland cement concrete pavement on four sections of state highway 57 in Sheboygan County, then covered with a 1.5-inch overlay. Compared to two control sections of similar pavement rehabilitated by crack filling and the same overlay, GlasGrid performed fairly after three years, but after four, five and ten years yielded substantially greater cracking than controls.

Title: Stone Matrix Asphalt: The Wisconsin Experience (800 KB)
Date: January 2002
Report Number: WI/SPR-02-02
A study of the ease of construction and five-year performance at six stone matrix asphalt (SMA) installations demonstrated that SMAs generate less cracking and distress than standard asphaltic concrete pavements, with results varying with aggregate type and size. However, the benefit in driving safety with SMA remains slight, its rut-resistance is equal to standard asphalt mixes, and its ride is generally rougher. If longer-lasting, SMA's cost-effectiveness is yet unknown. 

Title: Asphaltic Pavement Warranties - Five-Year Progress Report  (2.5 MB)
Date: June 2001
Researchers find that asphaltic pavements under warranty perform better than un-warrantied, measurable by significantly better roughness and distress indices five years after installation. Furthermore, warrantied pavements prove more cost-effective, executed at a cost of roughly $3 less per ton.

Title: Characterization of Simple and Complex Crumb Rubber Modified Binders (1.2 MB)
Date: July 2000
Report Number: WI/SPR-07-01
Transverse cracking at six well-performing and five poorly performing pavement projects were surveyed in 1994 and 1997. All 11 projects, built in the same three-year period, showed more cracking than other Wisconsin pavements of similar age, and cracks increased between surveys. Direct tension tests proved the best indicator of transverse cracking, and colder-than-average temperatures account for some of the excessive cracking.

Title: Fine Tooth Milling Treatment of Rutted Asphaltic Concrete Pavements (84 KB)
Date: October 1999
Report Number: WI-13-99
A section of Interstate-94 that had been resurfaced with asphaltic concrete in 1986 showed early rutting. Fine-tooth milling of the surface was used during rehabilitation, yielded minor rutting after three years, growing progressively worse through six years. Ride and noise seem little affected by the technique, which, even with crack treatment included, still costs 10 times less than resurfacing. Hence, fine tooth milling is recommended for resurfacing pavements requiring surface life of six years or less.

Title: Pulverize, Mill & Relay Asphaltic Pavement & Base Course: Construction Report  (118 KB)
Date: August 1999
Report Number: WI-05-98
Compaction methods and moisture and density data were evaluated for these important elements of full-depth reclamation in an effort to refine provisions for pulverize, mill and relay, and to determine the need and feasibility of changes to accommodate thicker concrete lifts. Pre-grading and grading changes were recommended.

Title: Full Depth Asphalt Pavement (15 KB)
Date: October 1998
An analysis of full-depth asphalt pavement, which uses asphalt lifts as a base course, in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin show that the technique can be effective when it entails efforts to stabilize subgrades, and that it offers flexibility for staged construction by accommodating traffic after the first installed lift. However, the inexpensive aggregates available in Wisconsin make the alternatives to full-depth asphalt more cost effective at this time. 

Title: Evaluation of Excessive Cracking in Asphaltic Pavements (58 KB)
Date: 1997
Transverse cracking at six well-performing and five poorly performing pavement projects were surveyed in 1994 and 1997. All 11 projects, built in the same three-year period, showed more cracking than other Wisconsin pavements of similar age, and cracks increased between surveys. Direct tension tests proved the best indicator of transverse cracking, and colder-than-average temperatures account for some of the excessive cracking.

Title: Recycled Materials in Highway Improvements (14 KB)
A response to a request from the Governor's Council on Recycling, this brief paper outlines WisDOT efforts to use recycled materials. WisDOT recycles materials like scrap tire, foundry sand, fly ash; conducts recycled product development and evaluation programs; has modified specifications to accommodate recycled materials; and distributes reports and research to industry groups, national and state organizations, DOT offices, local governments and private companies. 

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Concrete pavement reports

Title: Evaluation of the URETEK Method of Pavement Lifting (1 MB)
Date: April 2007
Report Number: WI-02-07
The objective of this study five-year study was to investigate The URETEK Method® of pavement lifting to adjust the elevation of concrete pavement bridge approach slabs. The construction process took longer than anticipated and used more material than initially estimated, making the method less cost effective than predicted. The report details the evaluation process and conclusions.

Title: Development and Implementation of a Performance-Related Specification for a Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement--I-39/90/94 Madison, Wisconsin (4 MB)
Date: January 2007
Report Number: WI/SPR-04-00
The objective of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a Level 1 performance-related specification for the construction of a jointed plain concrete pavement in Wisconsin. The Level 1 PRS defined the sampling and testing requirements for four acceptance quality characteristics and the corresponding performance-based pay factor curves for each acceptance quality characteristic (AQC). AQC measurements obtained from a concrete paving project were used to compute PRS pay factors and establish pay adjustments, which resulted in significant incentives for the contractor. Feedback indicated this first PRS implementation was successful, particularly with respect to the layouts of lots and sublots. 

Title: Cost-Effective Concrete Pavement Cross Sections (1.3 MB)
Date: June 2006
Report Number: WI/SPR-03-05
Concrete pavement test sections were constructed along WIS 29 in 1997 and 1999 to validate the constructability and performance of alternative dowel bar placements and materials, slab thicknesses and drainage details. This report evaluates performance data on the test sections five and seven years after construction. Results indicate that FRP composite dowel bars may not be a practical alternative to epoxy coated steel dowels due to their reduced rigidity. Reduced doweling in the driving lane wheel paths is shown to be detrimental to performance, but reduced doweling in the passing lane wheel paths may be justifiable. Some of the tested slab geometry and drainage designs were found to perform as well as or better than standard designs. 

Title: Evaluation of Roadware 10-Minute Concrete Mender for PCC Bridge Deck Crack Sealing (9.6 MB)
Date: January 2004
Report Number: WI-02-04
The Roadware 10-Minute Concrete Mender was evaluated in this study. According to the manufacturer, the 10-Minute Mender has extremely low viscosity for deep penetration into concrete and cures quickly in a wide climate range (from 100° F to subzero temperatures). Based on the feedback from the WisDOT districts that are involved in this study, the 10-Minute Mender has performed very well. The high cost of the 10-Minute Mender was offset by the ease of application and short time required to cure. A fairly new product on the market called TK-9030, similar to the 10-Minute Mender in packaging, application, and performance was briefly included in this research study. TK-9030 appears to perform as well as the Roadware 10-Minute Concrete Mender, at less than half the cost.

Title: Report on Early Distress (RED): Investigation of PCC Pavement on STH 29 (6 MB)
Date: August 2004
Report Number: RED-09-02
A Report of Early Distress for STH 29 in eastern Shawano County was received from WisDOT District 3 staff in August of 2000. They were concerned that a concrete paving project (10 inch, doweled PCC) constructed in 1999 was showing early distress almost immediately after construction. Investigation led to several conclusions. The primary cause of the early distress appears to be poor mixing of the concrete, evidenced by layers or pockets of sand with low cement content.

Title: Laboratory Testing of Portland Cement Concrete Patch Material, Modified to Reduce or Eliminate Shrinkage (1.8 MB)
Date: July 2004
Report Number: WI-01-04
This study was initiated in response to the development of early distresses from shrinkage of the patch material of a dowel bar retrofit project in Wisconsin. Three techniques were studied for reducing shrinkage of the inexpensive MnDOT 3U18 patch material used by WisDOT: expansive cements or additives, shrinkage reducing admixtures, and internal curing through the use of saturated lightweight fine aggregate. After extensive laboratory testing two products were found that successfully reduced shrinkage without negatively impacting other vital properties. 

Title: Evaluation Of MMFX Corrosion-Resistant Steel Dowel Bars In Concrete Pavements  (1.0 MB)
Date: July 2003
Report Number: WI-07-03

This experimental study was initiated to evaluate corrosion-resistant steel dowel bars, manufactured by MMFX Steel Corporation of America. This report only includes the construction aspects of this research study of the dowel bar installation in new concrete pavement on STH 57 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Generally, the placement of the MMFX dowel bars went smoothly, with the exception of minor problems. The project site will continue to be monitored for performance evaluations.

Title: Dowel Bar Retrofit (2.5 MB)
Date: November 2002
Report Number: WI-07-02
Patch materials, dowel bar materials, and joint sealing were studied at fifteen test sections and three control sections of STH 13 in Wood County. Four of six patch materials performed well after one year; pavement sections frequently cracked from dowel bar slots within the first year, and installation proved problematic. Further study is recommended.

Title: Strategies for Enhancing the Freeze-Thaw Durability of Portland Cement Concrete Pavements (629 KB)
Date: July 2001
Report Number: WI/SPR-06-01
Concretes including 18.6 percent fly ash and those including 50 percent blast furnace slag material were put to 1500 cycles of accelerated freeze-thaw testing for elasticity and weight loss. Air void proved a far more significant factor in durability than water-cementitious ratio, though more important in fly ash mixes than slag. Decreases in w-cm ratio did not compensate for reductions in air content, and fly ash mixtures proved more durable than Grade A mixtures and slag mixtures, which were comparable.

Title: Investigative Study of the Italgrip System - Noise Analysis (702 KB)
Date: March 2000
Report Number: WI/SPR-02-00
Researchers examined various external noise impacts of untreated transverse-tined portland cement concrete pavement, diamond ground pavement with no Italgrip, and diamond ground pavement with Italgrip. Noise level reductions with Italgrip, in contrast to diamond grinding, proved significant only at a limited frequency and speed limit.

Title: Investigation of Feasible Pavement Design Alternatives for WisDOT (326 KB)
Date: November 1999
Report Number: WI/SPR-15-99
A performance evaluation of existing installations of thick asphalt concrete and thin portland cement concrete was inconclusive, in terms of performance and life cycle costs, due to scant data. However, researchers recommended the two as viable alternatives to current WisDOT design provisions, and called for development of design guidelines. 

Title: Pilot Testing of a Quality Management Provision for Concrete Pavement (189 KB)
Date: August 1999
Report Number: WI/SPR-04
Quality management provisions on five projects, each by a different contractor, were pilot tested for contractor quality-control plan, various aggregate testing, various pavement characteristics, and more. Benefits showed in contractor pride, higher quality facilities, better documentation, and improved contractor-WisDOT relations. 

Title: The Great Unsealing: A Perspective on PCC Joint Sealing (1.9 MB)
Date: 1996
An essay, this paper reviews research and practices on joint sealing in Wisconsin, and concludes that joint sealing has proved neither cost-effective nor an enhancement to the driving quality of concrete pavements. The author recommends narrow contraction jointing rather than sealing.

Title: Random Skewed Joints With and Without Dowels (54 KB)
Date: December 1996
Report Number: WI/FEP-07-96
Construction, performance, and cost of doweled and undoweled concrete pavements with skewed joints were evaluated over a 12-year period. Epoxy-coated dowels were used, and the doweled pavements outperformed non-doweled, which after 10 years required rehabilitation, and proved significantly more cost-effective over a 25-year service life. 

Title: Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation Manual (6.9 MB)
Date: May 1992
This manual offers builders and designers guidelines for rehabilitation of jointed reinforced and continuously reinforced concrete pavements, and of jointed plane concrete pavements, both doweled and undoweled.

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Pavement design

Title: Evaluation of Bottom Ash as a Base Course (5.4 MB)
Date: July 2004
Report Number: FEP-08-04
Two highway construction projects were selected to evaluate bottom ash (one with screened bottom ash and one with natural bottom ash) as a base course for an asphaltic concrete pavement. The bottom ash of both projects performed as well as, or better than, the crushed limestone during the construction process. 

Title: Noise and Texture on PCC Pavements: Results of a Multi-State Study (7.3 MB)
Date: June 2000
Report Number: WI/SPR-08-99
Researchers evaluated noise and texture at 57 sites in six states, including 22 in Wisconsin. Key findings include: roughness and noise correlate poorly; the one open-textured asphalt site produced lower noise than the other 56 PCC sites; uniform tining produces interior whining; random spaced rake and diamond grinding can eliminate whine, and diamond grinding produces lower noise levels than random transverse tining; random transverse tining requires significant design and build control. 

Title: Investigation of Feasible Pavement Design Alternatives for WisDOT (325 KB)
Date: November 1999
Project ID: WI/SPR-15-99 
This is a duplicate of the study by the same name, above. A performance evaluation of existing installations of thick asphalt concrete and thin portland cement concrete was inconclusive, in terms of performance and life cycle costs, due to scant data. However, researchers recommended the two as viable alternatives to current WisDOT design provisions, and called for development of design guidelines. 

Title: Performance Evaluation of Drained Pavement Structures (287 KB)
Date: December 1998
Report Number:  WI/SPR-04-08 
Short-term structural and drainage performance of 12 pavement sections showed that pavement serviceability was largely affected by the use of dowels, select embankment, and asphalt stabilized open-graded base course. However, benefits were not cumulative; any one element should suffice. Researchers recommend Wisconsin open-graded base course #2 over #1, and unsealed transverse joints prove little worse than sealed. Various edge drains perform adequately, but retrofits offer no benefit.

Title: Pavement Design and Programming Options: European Design to Maintain Only (282 KB)
Researchers examined three pavement design philosophies: maintain-only, with quickly built highway designs and acceptance of significant maintenance; European, with deep and wide pavements and focus on preventative maintenance; classic, as in Wisconsin, with middle-ground construction and maintenance. Classic design suits climate and distances in this state, though each of the others may be useful in certain situations.

Title: The Pavement Type Selection Process (81 KB) This report entails a reshaping of a 1993 Pavement Policy Committee draft on the pavement selection process for highway improvement projects entailing reconstructions or laying of new pavement on new grades, based upon comment from WisDOT employees and paving industry groups. Recommendations include development of asphalt and concrete alternatives to current WisDOT designs; and use and improvement of a design and life-cycle cost analysis computer program. 

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Pavement monitoring

Title: USH Oconomowoc Bypass Report of Early Distress Portland Concrete Pavement and Glomark Pavement Marking (827 KB)
Date: March 2007
Report Number: RED-04-07
This study investigated the causes of early failure in Glomark pavement marking on a stretch of one-year-old Portland Concrete pavement in southeast Wisconsin. The researchers found that the distress was likely caused both by an expansive aggregate and by problems with the pavement marking installation or product durability.

Title: Report on Early Distress (RED) Retrofit Dowel Bars on I-39 (2.6 MB)
Date: January 2002
Report Number: RED-05-01
This project documents the evaluation of distressed pavement condition, core samples, and test projects of 1999-2000 dowel bar retrofits along 100 miles of I-39. Primary distress cause proved to be poor freeze/thaw durability of mortar, which in turn triggered spalling at the joints of the original concrete, echoing experiences in other states. Inconsistent blends from mobile mixers, and sealant practices short of thorough may also contribute to distress. 

Title: Public Perceptions of the Midwest's Pavements: Executive Summary - Wisconsin - Final Report (Summary of Phases I, II, and III) (162 KB)
Date: January 2001
Report Number: WI/SPR-01-01
A five-year pooled-fund project by Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, evaluated public perception of pavement quality via focus groups, telephone surveys, and targeted post-drive surveys. Findings include preference for better roads and willingness to pay cost, desire for fewer delays but preference for under traffic construction to detours, and that public perception of drive quality correlates poorly with IRI and PDI.

Title: Report on Early Distress (RED) Investigation of Shoulder Heave Problems (1.2 MB)
Date: October 2001
Report Number: RED-04-01
Two-inch and greater rises within the first two feet of shoulder off the mainline were reported in January 2001. On projects over open-graded base courses, investigators believe differential frost heave resulted from dissimilar base materials. On projects with dense-graded base course, investigators attribute heave to inconsistent compaction efforts. In both cases, unsealed longitudinal joints may also have contributed to heave. 

Title: Public Perceptions: Phase III Targeted Surveys (282 KB)
Date: September 2000
The Phase III report of this pooled-fund study, this shows consistency with Phase II, though questions were more specifically framed. Satisfaction with pavements, for instance, was 67 percent compared to 80 percent in Phase II. Indices correlated somewhat better than in Phase II; tolerance of rough rigid pavements was greater than of rough flexible pavements, people in the south of the state hold higher condition expectations than those in the north, and IRI correlation improved.

Title: Public Perceptions: Phase II Statewide Surveys (149 KB)
Date: rev. May 1999
Begun in 1996, this phase included formation of survey questionnaires and administration by Fall of 1997. Wisconsin results were gathered by December 1997. Public views of policy show significant levels of trust in WisDOT, and strong interest in building long-lasting pavements even at public inconvenience. Current pavement quality satisfies 80 percent of respondents, though this satisfaction poorly correlates with IDI and PDI.

Title: 1997 Ride Measurement Report (5 MB)
Date: May 1998
International Roughness Index evaluations of 73 asphaltic pavements and 26 portland cement pavements found a slight decrease in ride quality on the portland cement, and no significant change on the asphalt. IRIs were measured at 1.00 for asphalt, 1.67 for portland cement; these scores, below the five-year averages of 0.98 and 1.44, respectively, show a trend of slight decline over the period. 

Title: Public Perceptions: Wisconsin Winter Ride Survey Report (596 KB)
Date: September 1997; rev. 2001
Part of the above research, this shows specific findings of Wisconsin drivers' experiences of winter driving and pavement quality. Results show 40 percent of respondents recognize drop in ride quality during winter, and three quarters of those find it acceptable for the season. Small vehicle drivers notice changes less. Of the respondents, 39 percent avoid certain stretches of highways during winter. 

Title: 1996 Ride Measurement Report (389 KB)
Date: April 1997
International Roughness Index evaluations of 61 asphaltic pavements and 13 portland cement pavements found average IRIs of 1.02 for asphalt, and 1.41 for portland cement. These scores show no significant changes from 1995 and 1996 readings.

Title: 1995 Ride Measurement Report (4.6 MB)
Date: February 1996
International Roughness Index evaluations of 46 asphaltic pavements and seven portland cement pavements produced average IRIs of 1.03 for asphalt, and 1.45 for portland cement. These scores were considered to indicate no significant change in ride quality from the 1994 assessments.

Title: Public Perceptions: Phase I Focus Group Content Analysis - Wisconsin (4 MB)
Responses from groups in Waukesha, Green Bay, Marshfield, Spooner, Platteville, and Rhinelander were collected in early 1996 to shape survey questionnaires for following phases of this project. Results showed satisfaction with road quality, overwhelming interest in safety, a familiarity with roads commensurate with roads that require specific attention during driving, and a sense that WisDOT paid these regions less attention than others. 

Title: Public Perceptions: Phase II Appendix Data Summary (51 KB)
This portion of the pooled-fund study totals the results of the survey issued in Wisconsin

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Pavement management

Title: Wisconsin's Pavement Management System: The Next Generation (32 KB) 
Date: 1996
This report provides a brief evaluation and recommendations for improvement of the pavement management system. Suggestions include use of interim reports and alternative treatment strategies, breaking up the "black box" process; decentralization of decision-making authority; reorientation of data bases toward user needs; better modeling; reduced emphasis on performance indices; and elimination of rigid analysis processes.

Title: A Pavement Preservation Strategy (103 KB) This short paper quickly outlines the cause-based (not schedule-based) pavement preservation strategy that guided the reformation of the WisDOT pavement management system. This broad focus on comfort, convenience, safety and cost uses pavement performance models. It assesses distress based on severity, extent, ride measurements, determines causes, then develops solutions. 

Title: Preserving Our Highways and Bridges (4 MB) A non-technical survey of bridge and highway preservation processes, this illustrated public affairs pamphlet describes responses to the problem of increasing traffic needs and aging infrastructure. It describes layered road construction, bridge deck overlays, maintenance techniques, rebuilding processes, and life cycle expectations. 

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Erosion control

Title: Investigation of Slope Paving Alternatives, (1.3 MB)
Date: March 2008
Report Number: WI-02-08
An investigation into alternative slope paving methods determined that an application of epoxy-stabilized aggregate provides a viable option to the standard methods using PCC surface or asphalt-stabilized aggregate. 

Title: Evaluation of Polymer for Soil Stabilization, (716 KB)
Date: August 2003
Report Number: WI-06-03
A field test of a new type B soil stabilizer product - Natural Earth Poly Stable Plus, from Earth and Road - found through site inspection, toxicity and rainfall simulation testing that it met performance guidelines. A cost-effective best management practice, this product significantly reduced rilling, and was approved for use by WisDOT in May 2003.

Title: Erosion Control Product Acceptability Lists for Multi-Modal Applications (283 KB)
Date: January 2001
This manual provides descriptions, specifications, and lists of approved erosion control products. Included are erosion mats, tackifiers, soil stabilizers, in-stream sediment traps, articulated concrete block revetment systems, and more.

Title: Polyacrylamide as a Soil Stabilizer for Erosion Control (1.5 MB)
Date: January 2001
Report Number: WI-06-98
This study of a soil stabilizing additive found CFM 2000 PAM a cost-effective alternative to soil mats. The polyacrylamide binds small soil particles together, providing resistance to dispersion and shear, enhancing water penetration and soil moisture, promoting germination and resisting erosion, at about one-ninth the cost of mats. 

Title: Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport Class 1 Erosion Mat Test Site (84 KB)
Date: October 2000
Report Number: WI-08-00
The final report of a product testing project, this study offers an evaluation in the first year of use of 14 erosion mat products installed at Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport in June of 1998. Quick mow products passed evaluations but poorly weathered winters; double-netted products outperformed single-netted; biodegradable netted products outperformed plastic netted products; biodegradable staples were recommended over metal.

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Noise barriers

Title: Living Noise Barrier (10 MB)
Date: January 1998
Report Number: WI/FEP-02-98 
Inspired by European models of living noise barriers, WisDOT installed and evaluated in 1995 and 1996 a recycled plastic soil containment barrier system filled and planted with evergreen, deciduous shrubs, ground covers and more. Set along I-94 in Milwaukee, plant performance was erratic, soil loss extensive, and large sections collapsed during the evaluation term. The barrier was not cost-effective or aesthetically promising, and further use of non-reinforced plastic was discouraged.

Title: Durisol Noise Barriers  (1 MB)
Date: April 1997
Report Number: WI/FEP-02-97
A combination of wood shavings and portland cement, Durisol is a durable, hard material designed to absorb sound, and has been in use in Canada and Europe for a couple decades, without significant loss or weather damage in even harsh climates. This study determined the product meets WisDOT specifications, effectively reduces noise, and features a competitive unit cost.

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Other

Title: ET-2000 - End Treatment for Guardrail (939 KB)
Date: December 2007
Report Number: WI/FEP-03-07
This report evaluates the five-year performance of ET-2000 guardrail end treatment systems. Vehicle impacts with the systems were generally not severe and repairs to the systems were simple and cost-effective. The major recommendation of this report is to continue their use in Wisconsin.

Title: Experimental Culvert Pipe, STH 80 (3.5 MB)
Date: November 2003
Report Number: WI 80-02,03,04
This project observed the corrosion resistance of four types of culvert pipes - aluminum, aluminized steel, polymeric coated galvanized steel and epoxy bonded steel.  These pipes were placed at three sites in central Wisconsin in 1981 and monitored for their corrosion resistance. In comparing the performance of the four culvert pipes, the polymeric coated galvanized steel pipes appeared to best resist corrosion. 

Title: Aluminum Sign Corrosion Investigation (2.3 MB) 
Date: September 2004
Report Number: WI-06-04
This report contains the findings of an investigation undertaken to determine the causes of corrosion of aluminum highway signs mounted on alkaline copper quatenary (ACQ) treated wooden sign posts.

The major recommendation of this report is to apply some kind of rubberized backing to the signs. Secondarily, it is recommended that the specifications for the mounting hardware be changed to require hot dip galvanized hardware with a minimum of five mils protective coating.

Title: Scotch-Lane Wet Reflective Removable Tape - Series 750 (275 KB) 
Date: October 2003
Report Number: PE-00-03
This report evaluates wet night reflectivity of a removable tape in two construction work zones in Madison, Wisconsin. The product was found to perform better in wet weather than traditional markings. 

Title: Evaluation of the Constructability & Performance of Micro-Silica Modified Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays (1.6 MB) 
Date: December 2003
Report Number: WI/FEP-10-03
This report evaluates the use of micro-silica as a pozzolan in concrete to achieve a denser, stronger, less permeable material. Two bridge decks in Wisconsin were overlayed with micro-silica modified concrete in 1989 and inspected several times during the next twelve years. Conclusions and recommendations are included. 

Title: Evaluation of Lumimark Traffic Safety Marking System (1370 KB) 
Date: April 2002
Report Number: WI-03-02
This report contains color, luminance and retroreflectivity data of Masterbuilders Lumimark product. This report details a demonstration installation of the product in Wisconsin on SH 59 in Transportation District 2, Waukesha County. The product is a cementitious pavement marking material.

Title: Truncated Warning Dome Systems for Handicap Access Ramps - Final Report (6.6 MB) 
Date: November 2003
Report Number: WI-04-03
This is the final report of product trials for handicap access ramps in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, the city of Madison Engineering Division and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Trials were undertaken in response to the new Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Products were installed in the fall of 2002 and evaluated over the winter and following spring for constructability, durability, aesthetics, cost, and conformance to the standard. Eight systems were evaluated and two approved by WisDOT. Further investigation and development will continue in areas of stamping concrete and precast inset blocks.

Title: Truncated Warning Dome Installations - Technical Note (522 KB) 
Date: June 2005
Report Number: WI-01-05
This technical note includes a description of proper and improper installations of curb ramp detectable warning fields - truncated warning domes. This note addresses the field orientation and elevation.

Title: Comprehensive Subgrade Deflection Acceptance Criteria - Executive Summary (472 KB)
Date: November 2002
Report Number: WI/SPR-05-02
This project developed recommendations for specifications for subgrade acceptance on measured deflections. The executive summary provides descriptions and data from the multi-year study, which employed various deflection measurement systems, a nuclear density gauging system, and soil stiffness measurements. Researchers concluded that deflection measurement can be useful in certain situations, but in others requires augmentation because of its sensitivity to moisture-density conditions. 

Title: Comprehensive Subgrade Deflection Acceptance Criteria - Pilot Implementation (6.7 MB)
Date: January 2002
Report Number: WI/SPR-04-02
Criteria developed in the first three stages of this project were used in four sites during the 2001 construction season in an effort to supplement the collected data and to test feasibility. The implementations confirmed previous data and recommendations, and researchers called for further testing on moisture-sensitive soils in the 2002 season.

Title: Comprehensive Subgrade Deflection Acceptance Criteria - Phase III Final Report (2 MB)
Date: January 2001
Report Number: WI/SPR-02-01 
This is the final pre-implementation phase report for the project summarized above. Findings show the deflection acceptance testing requires concomitant subgrade penetration testing and moisture controls to supply meaningful assessments of soil stability suitable for construction. Useful correlations were developed between subgrade deflections and California Bearing Ratio measurements.

Title: Experimental Installation of Large Diameter (48 in.) High Density Polyethylene Culvert Pipe (HDPE) - Construction Report (1 MB)
Date: September 2000
Report Number: PE-09-00
Late in the summer of 2000, two 48-inch diameter high-density polyethylene culvert pipes were installed on a low volume trunk highway in Northwestern Wisconsin in an attempt to accommodate the freeze-thaw effects and acidic water that deteriorated the 54-inch corrugated metal pipes being replaced. Technical details and figures on soil and water properties, soil density and stiffness, and pipe deformation are given without comment. 

Title: Evaluation of the GEOWEB and J.K. Structure Slope Stabilization Methods (2.8 MB)
Date: January 2000
Report Number: WI-17-99 
An analysis of two slope stabilization products, this report compared Geoweb and J.K. Structure product installations to an untreated control area on State Trunk 35 along the Mississippi River in 1994. While deemed effective over a five-year period, the products proved not to be cost-effective in terms of purchase price and installation demands. Their general use was discouraged, though recommended as an option on a case-by-case basis. 

Title: Flowable Fill as Backfill for Bridge Abutments (3.2 MB)
Date: December 1999 
Report Number: WI-16-99
Abutments for two bridges on trunk highways were construction in 1996, each with one end of the bridge using conventional granular materials and compactions for backfill, and on the other end using controlled low-strength material (flowable fill). After three-year performance monitoring, it was found that the controlled material produced slightly less bridge approach settlement and a better ride. Further research was recommended. 

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