| Despite being identified as a geoconstruction technology applicable to transportation infrastructure applications, rapid impact compaction (RIC) has yet to be utilized on a transportation infrastructure project. Both technical and nontechnical obstacles, such as a lack of performance data, have impeded the introduction of RIC into the transportation sector. Each obstacle requires mitigation before RIC can be incorporated into the transportation sector. The goal of this research was to evaluate RIC for civil engineering applications in the transportation sector and mitigate the obstacles impeding the use of RIC within the transportation sector. The objectives that were sought to achieve this goal include expanding the RIC knowledge base; presenting a detailed case history of a commercial RIC project; and assessing the applicability of RIC's design, QC/QA, and specification procedures to transportation infrastructure projects. RIC is a well established technique within the commercial sector. An ample amount of commercial case histories and data pertaining to RIC performance, induced vibrations, and cost are currently in existence. The current procedures for design, QC/QA, and specification within the commercial sector will require improvement before application to transportation infrastructure projects. This research has addressed each of the obstacles preventing use of RIC within the transportation sector and has either partially or fully mitigated each obstacle. Additional future strategies for partially mitigated obstacles have been proposed. With fewer obstacles and a greater knowledge base, transportation agencies will have greater confidence in employing RIC for transportation projects. |
