2012-57625

ITEM 104 EMBANKMENT

When constructing embankments, suitable materials include
common material or rock. Soil particles should pass a sieve with 75
mm square openings and must have no more than 15 mass percent
that will pas a 0.075 mm sieve. Unsuitable materials, on the other
hand, include organic materials, organic soils, soils with plasticity index
higher than 55, soils with natural water content of more than 100%,
soils of natural density lower than 800 kg/m 3, and soils that cannot be
properly compacted.
The Contractor supervised by the Engineer should first do a
preconstruction survey. This survey will serve as a basis for the
computation of the volume of materials needed for the construction.
Embankment of earth material is done by placing horizontal layers not
more than 200 mm. Compacting is done before the next layer is
placed. As this progress, continuous leveling and manipulating is
necessary to reach uniform density. Water may also be added or
removed to achieve the required density. Each layer should also be
leveled and smoothed. Side ditches and gutters should be constructed
to make sure the roadbed is well drained at all times and to avoid
damage to embankments by erosion during construction.
Compacting is a crucial step in the construction of
embankments. Prior to the construction, the Contractor must submit
to the Engineer proposals for the compaction of every type of fill
material to be used. He/she is also required by the Engineer to carry
out full-scale compaction trials on areas not less than 10m wide and
50m long. For the compaction of earth or soil, a uniform density not
less than 95 mass percent of the maximum dry intensity is required.
Throughout the construction, density tests of the compacted material
are to be done. For materials classified as rock, they may be placed
given that they do not exceed 1200 mm in height and are carefully
distributed such that the interstices are filled to form a dense and
compact mass.
To protect the structure, if the embankment is deposited on one
side only, then the area immediately adjacent to it should not be
compacted to an extent that would cause overturning of the structure.
If embankment is to be placed on both sides of a structure,
embankment at both sides must have approximately the same
elevation. Once completed, any soft/unstable material not compacted
properly will be removed and graded with the suitable material. Lastly,
the embankment is to be paid by volume of material compacted.

ITEM 200 AGGREGATE SUBBASE COURSE

Materials used for as aggregate for the subbase include hard,
durable particles of fragments of crushed stone, crushed slag, or
crushed/natural gravel. The subbase also consists fillers, which are
natural/crushed sand or other finely divided mineral matter. They
should be free from vegetable matter and lumps of clay. To form a firm
and stable subbase, the materials should also be readily compactable.
It is important that the materials also pass the grading requirements
for the passing mass percent depending on their sieve designations.
Furthermore, the fraction of the materials passing the 0.075 mm sieve
should not be greater than two thirds of the fraction passing the 0.425
mm. Also, the fraction passing the 0.425 mm sieve should not have a
liquid limit greater than 35 and have a plasticity index no greater than
12. Lastly, coarse particles retained on a 2.00 mm sieve should not
have a mass percent of wear exceeding 50.
Prior to the construction, the Contractor must spread and
compact trial sections checked by the Engineer. This will ensure the
suitability of the materials, equipment and construction method. For
every material type and equipment/procedure, a trial section of about
500 m2 should be used. The Engineer may also require tests such as
field density tests on each trial section.
For the actual construction, the aggregate subbase materials are
uniformly mixed and placed starting at a designated point. Placing is
done using especially equipped vehicles that would distribute the
material in a continuous uniform layer. If the required thickness is less
150 mm or less, the material may be spread and compacted into a
single layer. If the required thickness, on the other hand, is more than
150 mm, two or more layers of approximately equal thickness should
be incorporated. Each layer, however, should not exceed 150 mm in
thickness. Also, each layer should be shaped and compacted before
addition of the next layer. Compaction per layer continues until a field
density of 100 percent of the required maximum dry density is
attained.
ITEM 201 AGGREGATE BASE COURSE
Materials used for as aggregate for the base course are the same
with the suitable materials used for the aggregate subbase course. In
addition to those, for areas where these suitable materials are scarce,
use of 40% weathered limestone and 60% crushed stones/grave may
be employed. The fraction of the materials passing the 0.075 mm
sieve should not be greater than two thirds of the fraction passing the
0.425 mm. Also, the fraction passing the 0.425 mm sieve should not
have a liquid limit greater than 25 and have a plasticity index no

greater than 6. Coarse particles retained on a 2.00 mm sieve should

not have a mass percent of wear exceeding 50. As for the filler
materials, they must be uniformly blended with the base coarse
material on the road or through a pugmill to meet the grading requires
and attain satisfactory bonding.
Trial sections are to be made prior to construction conforming to
the aggregate subbase course requirements. Placing, spreading and
compacting of the materials for the actual construction are also to be
done with the same standards and requirements of creating a subbase.

ITEM 202 CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASE COURSE

Materials required to construct the base are crushed hard,
durable particles or fragments of stone or gravel. They should be free
from vegetable matters, lumps of clay and other deleterious
substances. They should also be readily compactable. The fraction of
the materials passing the 0.075 mm sieve should not be greater than
two thirds of the fraction passing the 0.425 mm. Also, the fraction
passing the 0.425 mm sieve should not have a liquid limit greater than
25 and have a plasticity index no greater than 6. Coarse particles
retained on a 2.00 mm sieve should not have a mass percent of wear
exceeding 45 and more than 50 mass percent should have at least one
fractured face. As for the filler materials, they must be uniformly
blended with the base coarse material on the road or through a pugmill
to meet the grading requires and attain satisfactory bonding.
Construction requirements are the same with those of the aggregate
base course.