EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
RoadPacker Plus is an advanced material technology for road construction exclusively distributed by Pathway Technologies, Inc. It is proven to economically improve the construction and performance of roads undertaken by the Philippine government and the private sector in a growing number of projects all over the country. This undertaking is done for the benefit of the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office – Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), to demonstrate and reassure its members of the feasibility of construction using RoadPacker Plus, as well as the performance of the road layer as treated using it.
Situation of the project:
(180m x 6.7m section of) Construction of Zamboanga City Bypass Road, Culianan – Patalon Section, Zamboanga City
Location:
Pasonanca, Zamboanga City
Date of Demonstration:
July 27 to 29, 2021
Scope of Works:
Treatment of in-situ soil material currently used as the subgrade preparation, for a section of 180m length and 6.7m width.
Contractor:
DPWH Regional Office IX – Construction Team
Results:
The subgrade preparation was treated consisted of in-situ soil used throughout the project. The treatment used construction methodology requiring no additional equipment than currently used for road construction. After compaction, the road base had visible improvement later validated by a passed Field Density Test averaging 101.67%, well above the 95% requirement for Subgrade layer, and the 100% requirement for Base Course layer using Item 201: Aggregate Base Course (and Item 200: Aggregate Subbase Course). The average Actual Dry Density result is 1,616.51 kg/m3, well above the 1,590.00 kg/m3 Maximum Dry Density (MDD) of the untreated in-situ material, also an increase of CBR value by more than 400% of the untreated material, from 9% – 49%.
Soil Stabilization using RoadPacker Plus allows projects to improve road performance while reducing costs by replacing materials that may need to be purchased from some distance to the project site.
BACKGROUND
Pathway Technologies Inc., the authority in earth-based construction technology continues to advocate the use of stabilized soil as road base construction material to reduce the use of sand and gravel in road construction, a non-renewable resource that is the most extracted material on the planet next to water. Pathway is most successful when the government, the developers, and the construction companies adopt its alternative construction material technologies.
This adoption only follows if the alternative successfully delivers the performance of sand and gravel materials in an economical way. This is possible through RoadPacker Plus Ionic Soil Stabilizer, manufactured by RoadPacker Group, and distributed exclusively in the Philippines by Pathway.
While a growing number of Engineering Offices and Regions of the Department of Public Works and Highways have embraced the use of RoadPacker Plus as a chemical stabilizer for Item 206 in its Book of Standards and Specifications for Highways, Bridges, and Airports: Chemically Stabilized Road Mix Base Course/ Subbase Course, this has yet to be the case for DPWH Regional Office IX – Zamboanga Peninsula Region.
Still, The DPWH Regional Office IX welcomed the possibility of advanced road construction technologies and approved the site demonstration of RoadPacker Plus, specifically for the subgrade preparation using in-situ material (pure soil). This is performed for the section of an on-going road project under supervision of DPWH Regional Office IX – Construction Team lead by Engr. Jeremie Asignar, Pathway Technologies Inc. as well as RoadPacker Asia provided engineering and technical application support.
The site demonstration was conducted on July 27 to 29, 2021.
The site application proved that the construction methodology, the choice of material to be used as subgrade, and the performance of the stabilized material exceeded requirements. It is conclusive that the soil stabilized using RoadPacker Plus results in road construction materials exceeding performance requirements. Thus, Item 206, or Chemically Stabilized Road Mix is a suitable replacement for Item 201 and/or Item 200 (Aggregate Base Course, Aggregate Subbase Course) in the respective Programs of Work for road construction projects.
LOCATION
Pasonanca, Zamboanga City
SITE CONDITIONS
Due to heavy rains and no drainage access on site, the rain water accumulates in the road opening which damaging the road subgrade preparation and this cause rubberize of road base. In the other sections of the road project, because of the continuous rains, the road surface becomes muddy and unable to access by most vehicles. Please see photos below.
COMPARISON
All photos were taken after a rainfall; we can see the difference between the two photos, very visible tire marks in a muddy road base (before) against a smoother road base (after).
Before: Untreated Road Base
After: RoadPacker Plus Treated Road Base
TEST RESULTS
FIELD DENSITY TEST
HOLES | Actual Dry Density, Kg/m³ | Degree of Compaction, % | Remarks |
1 | 1,646.97 | 103.58 | Satisfactory |
2 | 1,638.51 | 103.05 | Satisfactory |
3 | 1,569.56 | 98.71 | Satisfactory |
4 | 1,595.48 | 100.34 | Satisfactory |
5 | 1,659.19 | 104.35 | Satisfactory |
6 | 1,589.32 | 99.96 | Satisfactory |
AVERAGE | 1,616.51 | 101.67 | PASSED |
* Max Dry Density is equal to 1,590.00 kg/m3
* Required Degree of Compaction is 95% Minimum
FDT ON-SITE
FDT (HOLES 1, 2 & 3)
FDT (HOLES 4, 5 & 6)
CBR (NO Stabilizer)
CBR (with RoadPacker Plus)
