QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH

                       The main functions of QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH are field oriented research, imparting technical training & conducting quality control inspection.To achieve these, four laboratories at Chennai and four Zonal sub-laboratories at Thanjavur, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli are functioning under QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH and their activities are as follows. Laboratories at Chennai .

ACTIVITIES OF SOILS LABORATORY

The important activities of the Soils laboratory are as follows.

• Pavement Design
• Rigid and Flexible pavements.

Pavements for new formation as well as widening of existing roads are designed conforming to the various guidelines outlined by Indian Roads Congress specifications. The pavement design is made based on subgrade soil properties and traffic intensity

•  Strengthening of existing flexible pavements.

Overlay for the distressed Pavement designed based on characteristic deflection by conducting Benkelman Beam Deflection Test.

2. Rehabilitation studies.

Pavement failure studies are carried out to identify the reasons for the premature pavement failure by conducting field investigation & lab tests. Remedial measures are suggested based on findings of the field and lab study.

3. Pile load tests.

The safe load on pile is determined by conducting initial Pile load tests and routine pile load test on working pile.  

4. Subsoil investigation.

Geotechnical properties of foundation soil are necessary for foundation design, embankment design, scour depth calculation, pile design and foundations in rock strata. Subsoil investigation is conducted to collect the geotechnical properties and other details required for the foundation design. 

• Ground improvement:

Foundation soil needs to be improved where the deformation of the foundation soil exceeds allowable limit. Highways Research Station has expertise in ground improvement design for high embankments.
 
6.  Technical comments and opinions:
Technical opinion and comments are offered on draft guidelines / codes of Indian Roads Congress and Bureau of Indian Standards. 

• Consultancy Works.

Consultancy works are carried out in the above areas for other organizations.
8. Some important research schemes done by HRS:

• Use of quarry fines – gravel mix in lieu of sand-gravel mix for granular sub base.
• Use of Terrazyme as a soil stabiliser.
• Evaluation of correlation between the density / CBR and dynamic cone penetration test values.
• Use of granulated copper slag in sub base. 
• Use of Geogrids in overlays over flexible pavements.
• Rehabilitation techniques for roads in clay soils.

9. Research schemes 
 I. On-going research scheme -  “Study on the effect of using Quarry dust and Copper – slag in sub base at km 40/0 – 40/6 of Tiruchendur – Palayamkottai – Ambasamuthiram – Senkottai road” . 
II. Research schemes sanctioned for the year 2010-2011

1. Study on the behaviour of partially settled and partially loaded pile
2. Study on cost effectiveness of using stress relieving interlayer in distressed pavement.
3. Study on the rehabilitation of distressed pavement adopting different techniques.

10. Completed research schemes

• Comparative study on CBR and linear Shrinkage Methods of Design of Flexible Pavement.

• Evolving Cheap, Water Proof and non-Erodable Plasters for Mud walls.

• Effect of Seasonal Variation on Moisture Content and other Characteristics of subsoil stratum within the premises of Highways Research Station.

• Effects of Sodium Chloride on Soils.

• Improving the Strength Characteristics of Gravel.

• Road construction Practice in Sandy areas in Madras State.

• Correlation of Index Properties – Liquid Limit, Plasticity index, Linear Shrinkage Volumetric Shrinkage, Grain size Distribution, Proctor Density, OMC and the Laboratory CBR values.

• Comparative Study on various Methods of determining the Bearing Capacity of Soils.

• Use of Waste Oil in Soil Stabilisation.

• Correlation of in-situ test values like Standard CBR and the Plunger Penetration Test for the Deferent Soils.

• Use of Deferent Varieties of Lime for Soil Stabilisation and its Design Requirement.

• A Study on the use of Bentonite in Soil Engineering Works.

• Stabilizing Sand-Bitumen Combinations with Low Grade Aggregates.

• Study on the Use of Various Commercials Additives for Soil Stabilisation.

• Effect of Trace Chemicals on Soil Stabilisation.

• Swelling Pressure of Clays and Their Effects on Design of Foundation.

• Study on the Shear Characteristics of Remolded Clays.

• Correlation between Standard Penetration Values and Physical Properties of Cohesive Soils.

• Study on the Consolidation Characteristics of Cohesive Soils.

• Study on the Swell Pressure under Laboratory and the Field Conditions and their Correlation.

• Evaluation of Stabilized Road Base with Sea Sand, Flyash and Lime.

• Utility of Flyash as a light Fill-materials Behind Bridge Abutment and as a Slope Protection material in Embankments.

• Study on Sand Bitumen Stabilized Mixes using Low Percentage of Bitumen.

• Preparation of Soil-Map for Madras City and surrounding Areas.

• Study on the Stabilisation of Cohesive Soils with Particulars reference to Thanjavur District’s Environment.

• Study on the Variation of Densities at Different Regions of the Compacted CBR Specimens and on the Variation in the CBR Values at the top and Bottom of the specimens under Different compaction Conditions using different Types of Soils.

• Study on the Design of Pile Foundation and Pile Driving Operations.

• Study on the Creep Behavior of Soils.

• Estimation of CBR Values at Different Moisture Contents and Densities for Different Types of Soils.

• Evaluation of Unconfined Compressive Strength and C and Φ Values for Different Moisture Contents and Densities.

• Study on the effect of Sea Water Both as a Constituent in the Mix and as the Curing Medium on the Strength Characteristics of Sea Sand Stabilized Bases.

• Effect of Gallnut Water as an Additive on Sand-Soil-Lime Stabilization.

• Study on the Possibility of Obtaining Economical and Stronger Base Materials with Local Inferior Aggregates and Flyash.

• Evaluation of Cement Concrete Pavements and Flexible Overlays on Cement Concrete Pavements.

• Study on Compaction of Different Types of Soil Using Different Types of Rollers.

• Effect of Seasonal Variation of Moisture Content and Other Characteristic of Sub-Soil Stratum in Deltaic and Upland Regions of Tamil Nadu.

• Specifications for Low Cost Roads.

• Development of Construction Technology Utilising Optimum Manual Labour and Mechanical Equipment for Laying Roads.

• Correlation Study between Penetration ‘N’ Values from SPT and Static Cone Penetration Test Values.

• Evaluation of Subsurface Strata from Electrical Resistivity Data.

• Study on the Significance of the Overall Plasticity Index in Sand Gravel and Sand Clay Mixes.

• Study on the Use of Geotechnical Fabrics in Pavement.

• Construction Technology Utilising Optimum Manual Labour and Mechanical Equipment for Laying Roads.

• Study on Central Assessment Committee Techniques.

• Laying Equipping Test Track in Highways Research Station.

• Study on the Use of Flyash in Road Construction.

• Evolving a Flexible Pavement Design Method on a Rational Basis – use of Test Track.

• Study on Tied-Up Earth Fill (Reinforced Earth) in Fills and Embankments.

• Survey and Evaluation of Locally Available Materials (R-2 Scheme).

• Studies on the Critical Moisture Content for Evaluation of Sub grade Strength for Pavement Design under Different Conditions (R-5 Scheme).

• Development of Methods such as Benkelman Beam Deflection Method of Structural Evaluation of Existing Flexible Pavements (R-6 Scheme).

• Study of Efficacy of Various Measures Including Drains for Lowering / Cutting of Water Table for Different Soils (R-7 Scheme).

• Development of Specifications for Construction Methods in Expansive Clays (R-9 Scheme). 

• Experimental Studies on Contribution made by Shoulders to the Structural Capacity and Performance of Flexible Pavements (R-10 Scheme).

• Sub grade soil stabilization by Sand - Lime pile.

• Improving the bearing capacity of foundation soil using Band drain.

• Study on the effect of using Quarry dust and Copper slag in Sub base.

• Study on the effect of RBI-Grade 81on Clay sub grade soil.

• Use of geosynthetics (non-woven) in flexible overlay over flexible pavement in Cuddalore - Viruthachalam - Salem road km 43 / 600 – 900.

• Use of geogrids in overlays over flexible pavement in Cuddalore - Viruthachalam - Salem Road km - 77/260 – 600.

• Technical papers published

ACTIVITIES OF QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH

Based on the Institution Development Strategy, the Department has been reorganised with an exclusive quality control wing with effect from 01.11.2010. This Quality Control Wing consists of 8 Divisional Engineers, 37 Assistant Divisional Engineers and 90 Assistant Engineers for checking and inspecting the works related to Construction and Maintenance, NABARD and Rural Roads and City Roads wings.

            Besides the above, in National Highways wing, 8 Assistant Divisional Engineers, 16 Assistant Engineers are working to ensure the quality for various works. In the Projects wing also 4 Assistant Divisional Engineers, 9 Assistant Engineers are working in order to check the quality of various works of this wing.

            In order to have a full effective monitoring on Quality Control measures, Quality Control Systems have been approved in the G.O. 323/Highways and Minor Ports Department/Dated: 24.12.2010. As per this new 3 tier system, Quality Checking will be carried out by officers in three levels which is made mandatory apart from normal checks conducted by the Superintending Engineers & Chief Engineers.

First tier system consists of Assistant Engineers, Assistant Divisional Engineers of the respective works.

Second tier system consists of Assistant Engineers, Assistant Divisional Engineers of the quality control wing.

Third tier system consists of Divisional Engineers and Superintending Engineers of other wings (except Construction and Maintenance and National Highways wing).

However as suggested, Quality monitoring can be done through external agencies, for works costing more than 10 crores.

CONTACT ADDRESS

THE CHIEF ENGINEER
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RESEARCH
AGRO HOUSE
THIRU. VI. KA. INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

GUINDY, CHENNAI - 600 032.
PH. NO: 91 - 44 - 2225 4851
FAX NO: 91 - 44 - 2225 4642
E - MAIL ID: hrstn@dataone.in