HIGHWAYS RESEARCH STATION

The main functions of Highways Research Station 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 Highways Research Station 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

• RESEARCH NOTES / RECORDS PUBLISHED

13. Technical Papers Published in Important National & International seminars & conferences

Concrete and Structures laboratory

The important activities of the concrete and structures laboratory are as follows.

1. Designing  Concrete Mix for Bridges.
2. Testing of Cement, Aggregates,  Steel, Bricks  etc.
3. Inspection of Bridges of Highways Department.
4. Maintaining data of Bridges in Tamil Nadu.
5. Conducting non destructive tests on Bridges  whenever required.
6. Quality Control tests on concrete core samples collected from field.
7. Imparting training to Highway Engineers periodically and to Students of  Educational Institutions during their visits

On going research schemes

1.  Study on the effect of curing in concrete.

• Study on the effect of  copper slag as fince aggregate in concrete.

         Bitumen and Aggregate laboratory

The important activities of the bitumen and aggregate laboratory are as follows.

Suggest mix design for all types of bituminous mixes like SOBC, OBM, BC and Mastic  asphalt Tests on bitumen and aggregate.

On going research schemes

1.  Study on Pavement Condition with respect to Time on Penetration grade and CRMB grade Bitumen.

2.  Study of Comparison of Seal Coat type 'C' with type 'A' and type 'B' and Mix Seal surfacing.

Traffic and Transportation laboratory

All activities involving Planning, Operation, Management and Control of Movement of Vehicles along the road and related problems to ensure smooth flow of traffic, fall under the ageis of Traffic Engineering Discipline of Highway Engineering.

The activities of the raffic Lab are:

• Conducting Surface Roughness Tests on pavement as a Quality measure and prioritization tool.
• Conducting Axle Load Survey for assessing spectrum of Axle Load and thereby deducting Vehicle damaging factor, for design of Flexible and Rigid-Pavement.
• Conducting Vehicle Volume Count Survey for 24 hours Continuous for Scheme works related to Axle Load Spectrum etc.,
• Conducting Spot Speed Studies.
• Conducting Journey Speed and Journey Time on select Stretches.
• Conducting pedestrian safety studies.
• Conducting Road Safety Audit at Micro Level
• Conducting Accident Studies on select Stretches.
• Monitoring Improvements to Accident prone Black Spot location all over the state in SHs & MDRs.
• Commenting/ Suggesting formulation of guidelines of Critical Review of draft guidelines of IRC, MORTSH, HRB etc.,
• Suggestion as a part of review committee on the System Architecture of Road Management System (RADMS) Training and Rollout to TNRSP.
• Co-ordination with the State Govt. Departments such as Home (Transport) Dept, Transport Department.

• Member of the Expert Technical Committee of the Additional Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai - Traffic on framing the Technical Specification and guidelines for procurement of Traffic & Transport equipment for Traffic Police wing.
• Imparting Training to Drivers, Supervisory staff of State Express Transport Corporation, Metro Politician Transport Corporation of Transport Dept, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
• Training to students of Engineering Collage, Post-Graduate Students of Universities, IITs, and Staff & Engineers of the Department.

Accident prone study has been conducted at ECR and NH45 with in the Town limit and out side the Town limit and report have been submitted to Government in    March 2008.

Study On The Magnitude Of Distress Of Pavement With The Increasing Wheel Load.

Ongonig works

Performance Base-Line Indicators For Road Sub-Projects For The Projects Funded By The World Bank Under Tnudp – Iii

TRAFFIC ENGINEERNG DIVISION

The following are the Salient activities of the Traffic Engineering wing.

• Conducting various Traffic Engineering Studies such as Traffic Volume surveys and Origin and Destination surveys and preparing reports for new provision of Bye Pass Roads,   Vehicular Sub-ways,  Pedestrian Subways etc. and design of  junction and improvements to junction.

• Conducting' field survey and Traffic Volume survey at the accident Prone locations on all the roads in Tamil Nadu and identifying the deficiencies in the locations and suggest suitable  site improvements and effective traffic control and management measures such as widening the narrow roads, culverts and bridges, removal of obstructions affecting visibility to traffic, geometric improvements, removal of kinks and easing of dangerous and sharp curves  introducing rotaries.' divisional islands, medians. provision of traffic signals, cautionary signs etc.

• Conducting census of pedestrians crossing the roads at vulnerable spots in  order to determine the necessity for providing pedestrian Sub-Ways, rumbling  strips, speed breakers and marking of Zebra Crossings etc.,

• Conducting Traffic volume survey Field survey and census of pedestrians at the junctions proposed for installation of Automatic signals and preparation of designs for the proposed signals along with necessary junction improvement proposals.

• Suggesting guidelines for carrying out works for junction improvements geometric  improvements etc.

• Participating in the formulation of guidelines and standards evolved by Indian Roads Congress and Ministry of Transport, Government of India in regard to subjects concerning Road Safety, Traffic controls and management  measure.

• Co-ordination with Police Department in the formulation of various traffic regulations such as traffic segregation, introducing of one-way traffic system, banning certain types of vehicles on specific duration on important roads, provision of automatic signals at new junctions etc.,

• Compilation  of Traffic census particulars furnished by the Divisional Engineers (H), after conducting Traffic Census of all categories of vehicles on all the National Highways in Tamil Nadu during peak and normal periods.

• Compilation of traffic census particulars furnished by the Divisional Engineers (H) after conducting traffic census once in three years on all the state Highways , Major District roads and Other District Roads in Tamil Nadu, and for Highways once in 6 months.

• Assisting road safety audit conducted by traffic lab.

Functions of Zonal sub-laboratories.

Conduct deflection test Benkleman Beam Deflection test (BBD test) and give recommendation for the design of flexible pavement. Conduct CBR tests on sub-grade soils on roads formed / to be formed and render technical advice for proper design of pavement. Conducting Quality Control tests on materials used in road works in progress. Render assistance to the tests and research activities carried out at Highways Research Station, Chennai.
 
Training  the Practicing Engineers of Highways department.

Training is imparted to the practicing engineers of Highways department to carry out their departmental activities effectively. Training is given to them in various activities of the department like, Pavement design, exercising quality control of ongoing works and departmental procedures like preparation of estimates etc .. ,

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