MnDOT Road Research

Research Hot Topics

MnROAD

MnROAD is being reconstructed with over 20 active research projects.

Warm Mix Asphalt

Learn about our recent experiences with WMA at MnROAD and throughout Minnesota.

Resilient Modulus

Learn about Resilient Modulus Testing at the Materials Lab.

Intelligent Compaction

Find out what's new with Research and Implementation of Intelligent Compaction.

Innovative Diamond Grind

Updates on the quiet concrete pavement at MnROAD.

DCP & LWD

Learn how Minnesota is using the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and the Light Weight Deflectometer.

9th International Low Volume Road Conference Hot Topics

Summary from the TRB LVR Committee.

Research Topics

Resources

Organizations

Materials and Road Research products and services help to advance the state of the practice of pavement design, construction and maintenance by conducting and participating in pavement and materials research projects, implementation of research results, and supporting practitioners.

Recent Publications

To search our entire list - go to our database.

Pervious Concrete - Final Report (PDF 20.4 mb)

This report includes the design, construction, and performance of three pervious concrete test cells construction at MnROAD in 2008. These cells were constructed to evaluate the performance of pervious concrete pavements on a low-volume road in a cold weather climate.

Demonstration of Concrete Maturity- Final Report (PDF 32.6 mb)

This implementation project was carried out on the Unweave the Weave project and was one of the first MnDOT projects to test maturity meters in a field setting. This report establishes maturity strength curves for four different mixes, gives recommendations on datum temperature, and shows how small changes in mix proportions can affect the resulting maturity strength curves.

Recycled Pavements using foamed Asphalt - Final Report (PDF 844 kb)

This project evaluated Minnesota projects that used foamed asphalt in cold inplace recycling projects and developed recommendations for its use in CIR and FDR.

MnROAD Phase II Construction Report - Final Report (PDF 3.6 mb)

Over 20 test cells were reconstructed at MnROAD in 2008. This report documents the research projects and objective, pavement structural and mix designs for each cell, instrumentation plan, field construction activities, material sampling, and laboratory test results.

Active Projects Highlight

Best Value Granular Material for Road Foundations

Aggregate base materials are becoming increasingly expensive in many parts of Minnesota because gravel mines and rock quarries are being lost to other land uses. In addition, these aggregate materials are classified and placed in quantities based on design procedures and testing techniques that are decades old. New mechanistic design procedures and testing techniques currently exist and these need to be implemented so that road construction can better optimize material use and reduce waste.

This research project will synthesize information on the types, sources, costs, and properties of the locally available aggregate materials to link their index properties to performance related engineering properties and mechanistic design inputs. As a result, construction dollars will be better utilized because material types and layer thicknesses can be optimized during the design process based on mechanistic material properties related to performance and the cost of locally available materials. For more information, contact John Siekmeier.

Reclaiming Pavements

Stabilized full-depth reclamation is a method for recycling bituminous pavement on-site and increasing the strength of the base by adding a binder material to the reclaimed material. Experimental test sections have been constructed at MnRoad, a few county projects have used a similar technology. The granular equivalency (GE) of stabilized reclaim material needs to be established and validated for design. A study has been funded by the Local Road Research Board (LRRB) to evaluate structural contribution of SFDR using some of the existing county roads. . For more information, contact Shongtao Dai.

NDT Seminar

January 21, 2010

The seminar promoted the exchange of information among national and international researchers and practitioners on the application of nondestructive testing (NDT) in pavements, bridges and geotechnical engineering. Contributions focused on field applications, case studies, technology implementation, applied research, and practical experience. Technical presentations exposed state-of-the-practices in NDT methods, problems, and potential solutions

utilizing available and emerging NDT technologies. Presentation materials and meeting notes.