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09-12-2003, 06:50 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
USDA Zone 4
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Before any of the results are made available on the site, I wanted to take some time to discuss exactly how the test pavement was tested.
To eliminate the chance for transition areas to affect the results (where one base prep transitions to the next), chalk lines were snapped at the middle of each preparation.
Running perpendicular to those chalk lines, another chalk line was snapped down the middle of the length of the pavement, to eliminate the chance for edge restraint. It is down this chalk line that water was poured, and a compactor driven.
For each pass of the compactor, the compactor was driven to within 6" of the end of the pavement, throttled down to an idle, turned around by 2 men, then restarted back down the path. No turns were made while the compactor was at full throttle.
To measure deformation of each base, a string line was stretched between two stationary points, directly over the middle chalk lines of each pavement. Between measurements the string line was taken down in order to compact the base additional times.
Measurement from the string down to the pavers was done at the same point for each preparation (center of the compacted area, center of the string.
Prior to each round of compaction, water was applied using watering cans, making 3 passes over the pavement at moderate walking speed. A total of approx 4 gallons of water was poured onto the entire pavement prior to each round of compaction.
A total of 3 sets of 10 passes were made on the pavement, using our Wacker 1550 compactor.
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09-12-2003, 06:55 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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Some of the deformation was pretty obvious....
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09-13-2003, 09:38 AM
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Here's the test in progress...
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09-13-2003, 09:40 AM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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Here's a before and after shot of one of the base prep methods...
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09-13-2003, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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After...
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09-13-2003, 01:28 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Chicago
USDA Zone 5
Posts: 1,558
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When you get done with the tests, I would like to see an excavated cross section of the paver base. This would make it easy to see how the failure accured and where it accured.
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09-13-2003, 01:30 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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Good idea. We'll do that.  |
09-13-2003, 08:19 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southwest ct
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,742
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Holy base prep Batman!
Don't use those photos in your methods of installation brochures!
If I recall you had some test pavement set on just screenings and some on 3/4 process with sand. I'm curious if:
(1)your screenings got mushy from the fines holding water and settled.
(2) the 3/4 process base remained stiff but the sand compacted/squished out when wet
When do we get the results or are you going to publish them in the next issue of 'Brick Paving Monthly'.
__________________
As a father I was always aware that I was raising my sons to leave home, marry, establish families, and be men who could stand on their own two feet. We must fulfill our own destiny. I really wasn't concerned about what they might 'do' but I wanted them to 'be' good men.
- David Epps
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09-13-2003, 09:04 PM
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Wouldn't you love to know!! 
The testing is not complete, but once it is I will post the results. We have not yet conducted the skid steer test, and I have a suspicion that the results for that test will differ quite a bit from this first test.
And I may publish all of the results in the Private Gardens, so I can get some help paying for the costs to operate this site.
As for using the photos...I'm actually going to make them part of our future marketing. How many other companies out there are conducting tests like this? I think that might turn a few potential client's heads, knowing we did that. |
09-13-2003, 09:15 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southwest ct
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,742
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Nice marketing idea on the private gardens posting. I'll have to PM some other members to get the results 
I think you should make some money off of the site. I certainly would be willing to pay for the knowledge I'm aquiring here, it's already saved me a lot of greenbacks.
What's the link to the T-shirts? |
09-13-2003, 10:03 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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No T-shirts yet. But there are hats.  This off-season we'll be making some improvements in a few areas....
But for now I'd be happy to just cover the costs.
Hopefully nobody would PM the results from the Private Garden to others - kinda defeats the purpose of having an exclusive area. Part of my hope is to provide useful info like this in that area and charge for access, the proceeds from which will allow me to run some other test or do some other research that would further benefit everyone. If everyone gets the info free of charge, then the coffers are empty to run more tests or experiments. |
09-14-2003, 08:01 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wisconsin
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I need some input from everyone interested in these tests...
We have not yet conducted the skid steer test (our Gehl 6635 with a full skid of brick, driving over the pavers multiple times), and I'm wondering if we should.
I like Paul's idea of excavating and photographing a cross section of each base prep, to analyze where and why the failures happened. I'm worried that after the skid steer test, we may never know - the whole thing may be wrecked.
So my question to each of you is, do we do the skid steer test, then excavate and photo, or excavate and photo now?
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09-14-2003, 08:17 PM
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Whip
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Join Date: Jun 2003
USDA
Posts: 407
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If you are testing for pedestrian strength, stop now.
If you are testing for vehicular strength, go ahead with the skid steer test.
I would be happy to pay a yearly subscription fee to belong to the site.
__________________
Anyone want to move to Aus and buy my business?
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09-14-2003, 08:55 PM
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Ranger
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southwest ct
USDA Zone 6
Posts: 1,742
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I would like to echo what BJR said in his last post. I don't know if your goal is to 'Dominate' the landscaping forums or go for a smaller, but higher quality, site. However, I know if there was something like a two month trial membership and then a modest (10-25.00) fee per year you could justify your time here and keep some of the pita's out.
Just my .02.
__________________
As a father I was always aware that I was raising my sons to leave home, marry, establish families, and be men who could stand on their own two feet. We must fulfill our own destiny. I really wasn't concerned about what they might 'do' but I wanted them to 'be' good men.
- David Epps
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09-14-2003, 11:45 PM
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Whip
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Join Date: Jun 2003
USDA
Posts: 407
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Even $100 (Aussie) woulden't be out of the question.
__________________
Anyone want to move to Aus and buy my business?
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