Research
Current Projects
- Establish Policies and Procedures for use of Subgrade Stabilization in Michigan, Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation, Amount: $164,968.37, 10/1/2021 – 3/31/2023, PI: Dr. Bandara
- EGLE Scrap Tire Market Development Study, Sub Consultant to Resource Recycling Systems, Inc., 09/28/2021-5/31/2022 PI: Dr. Bandara
Past Projects
- Reduction of pH Levels from Roadway Underdrain Outlets, Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation, Amount: $169,010.18, 5/1/2019 – 12/31/2020, PI: Dr. Bandara
- International Consultant to Asian Development Bank, Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide for Sri Lanka, 2018 – 2021, PI: Dr. Bandara
- A Mobile Wireless Sensor Network for Road Travel Safety in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Amount $50,000, August 2015 – August 2016, PI: Dr. Bandara, Dr. Kun Hua and Dr. James Mynderse
- Performance Evaluation of Subgrade Stabilization with Recycled Materials, Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation, Amount: $213,518, April 2013-June 2016, PI: Dr. Bandara
- Evaluating the use of Tow Plow in Michigan, Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation, Amount: $186,661, April 2013-September 2016, PI: Dr. Bandara
- Evaluating prestressing strands and post-tensioning cables in concrete structures using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) including joint shear wave analysis, Funding Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation, Amount: $275,000, October 2012 – November 2015, PIs: Dr. Jensen and Dr. Grace
- Enhancing Michigan Climate Database for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Designs, Funding Agency: Lawrence Technological University Faculty Seed Grant, Amount: $2,900, 1/31/2013-7/30/2013, PI: Dr. Bandara
News
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has successfully used recycled crushed concrete as a base layer in highway pavements for several decades. Using recycled aggregate decreases demand for new materials, reduces MDOT’s highway costs and promotes sustainability. However, MDOT had observed that some drainage water from roads with a recycled concrete base layer was very alkaline and created mineral deposits at drain outlets. Researchers investigated this issue and recommended treatments that will allow MDOT to continue using recycled materials while easing environmental concerns about roadway drainage.
The use of recycled materials for subgrade stabilization can provide the support needed for construction vehicle loading and more typical long-term traffic loading. This is a particular need in Michigan due to the prevalence of weak subgrade soils. Using recycled byproducts from manufacturing processes for soil stabilization reduces the impact on landfills and also reduces the cost of strengthening the soil prior to constructing the upper pavement layers.
