MnROAD, located near Albertville, Minnesota (40 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul) is one of the most sophisticated, independently operated pavement test facilities of its type in the world. MnROAD has collected data since 1993 on three unique road segments located parallel to Interstate 94.
MnROAD data is collected in a number of different methods and processes, which impacts how we store the data (both calculated and raw values). The purpose of this document is to describe what data has been collected, where it is stored for research use, and how to access the data.
This report describes a major enhancement to the Integrated Climatic Model. The Integrated Climatic Model is a one-dimensional coupled heat and moisture flow program that is intended for use in analyzing pavement-soil systems. It has the capability of generating internally realistic patterns of rainfall solar radiation, cloud cover, wind speed, and air temperature to simulate the upper boundary conditions of a pavement-soil system. It has a variety of options for specifying the moisture and temperature, or the flu of these at the lower boundary and at the interface between the subgrade and the base course. It considers the lateral and vertical drainage of the base course m determining the amount of water that enters the subgrade by infiltration through the pavement surface and drainage through the base course. The program calculates the temperature, pore pressure, moisture content and resilient modulus for each node in the profile for the entire analysis period This program also predicts frost behavior, including heave and penetration depth; thermal gradient and curl strain in the pavement layers; and infiltration and drainage behavior of the base course.
The Integrated Climatic Model Version 2.0 has a graphical user interface to model soil-pavement profiles. Through a series of dialog boxes the user inputs all data required for pavement performance calculations. The user may also input climatic data directly from a computer file. After a model run, an interactive dialog box allows the user to generate a wide assortment of output files in both tabular and graphical formats. These output files can be output using the program or can directly be used as input m other graphing software. The Integrated Climatic Model Version 2.0 is intended for use on IBM compatible computers using the Windows 95 or Windows NT 32-bit operating systems. A 486 DX2-66 processor or better is recommended for efficient operation of this program.
Throughout its decade of operation, MnROAD has become a major resource in the pavement community for test track expertise, pavement data, and pavement research. However, one overlooked benefit of MnROAD’s first phase of operation is the effort of MnROAD engineers to introduce, develop, and encourage the use of new technologies and techniques for pavement engineers. While the list of new products tested and/or developed at MnROAD is extensive, this brief will focus on three products and the influence of those products outside of MnROAD: the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer, used to estimate the strength of subgrades; Ground Penetrating Radar, used in pavements to assess, among other things, layer thicknesses and subsurface conditions; and Continuous Compaction Control, which involves continuously measuring soil compaction and adjusting the needed force to compact the soil. These three highlights emphasize the ability of MnROAD to:
1. serve as a test facility for pavement and pavement foundation experiments,
2. develop new technologies and procedures for pavement engineering,
3. contribute in a significant manner to pavement engineering both at a local and national level.
It is hoped that this brief exposes the reader not only to a few past accomplishments of MnROAD in new technologies but will give a better idea of the promise and ability of MnROAD in the development and adoption of these technologies.
This brief details MnROAD’s involvement in ME design and describes the capacity of MnROAD as a lasting influence on mechanistic pavement design for years to come.
MnROAD data is collected in a number of different methods and processes, which impacts the methods that are used to store the data (both calculated and raw). The purpose of this document is to describe what data has been collected and where it is stored for research use. MnROAD Database consists of the following data sources, which will be covered in this report. MnROAD Database consists of:
MnROAD Oracle Database,
MnROAD Offline Data,
MnROAD Project Reports,
MnROAD Individual Researcher Files,
Geographical Information System (GIS) Database
MnROAD Web Site
This study involved the development of calibration procedures for the MEGADAC equipment at the MnROAD site. It also developed a peak-pick procedure for dynamic data processing.
The primary objective of this project was to provide Mn/DOT with assistance in validating the Mn/ROAD database. The research approach consisted of the following:
- review the Mn/ROAD data acquisition systems and data collection procedures,
- evaluate the performance of the online and offline dynamic sensors,
- validate the online dynamic data collection and database
- validate the online static sensors and database,
- propose activities and procedures to ensure that future data are reliable.
The main focus of this collaborative project was to truly understand, organize and create a spatial database for the all unincorporated communities in the State of Minnesota. An “unincorporated community” means a geographic area having a common social identity without municipal organization or official political designation.
This Technical Summary pertains to Report 2009-35, “Mn/DOT Intelligent Compaction Implementation Plan: Procedures to Use and Manage IC Data in Real Time,” published December 2009.
