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Title:

LONG-TERM EVALUATIONS OF INSULATED ROADS AND AIRFIELDS IN ALASKA
Cover of LONG-TERM EVALUATIONS OF INSULATED ROADS AND AIRFIELDS IN ALASKA

Accession Number:

00712980

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

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Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981

Abstract:

The use of expanded plastic foam insulations in Alaska to reduce freezing and thawing of soils beneath road and airfield embankments began in 1968 with the installation of polystyrene and polyurethane foam products for frost-heave control. This was followed in 1969 by the first insulated roadway section over permafrost in North America, at Chitina, and by the first insulated airfield runway, at Kotzebue. Since then, many roadway sections, totaling more than 45 lane-km, have been insulated by the Alaska Department of Transportation, as have four additional airports. Materials used have been primarily extruded-expanded polystyrene foam, with one installation of foamed-in-place polyurethane and three of molded polystyrene beadboard. Evaluations of the long-term performance of these installations have included periodic sampling and testing of the insulations. On the basis of these observations, foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation was rejected for subgrade insulation uses, whereas extruded polystyrene was preferred based on its superior performance and longevity. Molded polystyrene beadboard has given acceptable performance, but it must be installed at a thickness 30 to 50% greater than that of the extruded polystyrenes to provide comparable thermal performance. Comparisons are given between insulated and noninsulated embankment behavior on permafrost and between measured and calculated late summer thaw depths. The modified Berggren calculation method, which provided reasonable 1-year thaw estimates, was used for the comparisons.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1481, Environmental Moisture Effects on Transportation Facilities and Nonearth Materials' Thermal Effects on Pavements. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Monograph Accession #:

01399809

Language:

English

Authors:

Esch, David C

Pagination:

p. 56-62

Publication Date:

1995

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 1481
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

Features:

Figures (5) ; References (9) ; Tables (4)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Long term

Geographic Terms:

Alaska

Old TRIS Terms:

Alaska

Subject Areas:

Aviation; Design; Highways; Pavements; Terminals and Facilities; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Oct 10 1995 12:00AM

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