THE EFFECT OF VEHICLE TYPE ON THE QUANTITY OF MATERIAL LOST FROM AN UNPAVED ROAD SURFACE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Five different test vehicles of differing sizes and weights subjected to the same conditions generated varying amounts of road dust per vehicle pass ranging from 24. 47g - 214 20g on 100m section of road leading to Shintaku in Basssa Local government area, Kogi state. To generate this dust, the five vehicles were individually made to run across the marked road section at varying speeds while other factors were constant. Results from suitable road/soil test and analysis showed that the bulk sample of the road bed material gave a silt fraction of 11.60% (which is a measure of the mass of particles less than 75J.1lD in diameter) and a moisture content of O.3~/o. The experiment showed that dust emission rates depend highly on the fine particle content of the road (silt content) and on the vehicle characteristics such as weight, clearance and speed. Suggested solutions for remedial treatment include use of Chemical suppressants (which may be either wetting or binding agents), use of bituminous seals, coating with hygroscopic and deliquescent chemicals (like Calcium Chloride and Sodium chloride) and use of org~c Binders. The ultimate solution to material loss from unpaved road is pavmg. vi