Pollution Intrusion on Soil-Pavement System

Abstract

The performance of both flexible and rigid pavement is a function of the constituent materials and their susceptibility to physical and chemical stress and degradation. To that end, specific phenomena that accompany and characterize the interaction of the soil-pavement system with the environment are discussed. Mechanisms of pollution intrusion through the pavement wearing surface, base, subbase, and subgrade soil layer are evaluated. Liquid movement phenomena and processes in the soil mass such as infiltration, percolation, and hydraulic conduction related to the soil-pavement system are examined. Laboratory data that reflect the effects of pollution intrusion on the behavior, stability, and performance of soil-pavement systems are presented and remedial actions on these effects are discussed. Pollution intrusion is manifested by changes in system variables, including solution pH, dielectric constant, ionic composition, temperature, and moisture content. These changes are shown to influence pavement design parameters, such as soil physical properties, compressibility, and stress.