Test Results:

Evaluating Polymer Treated

Soil/Aggregate Base
Utilizing the Humboldt GeoGauge

8 August, 1999

Prepared For
Fluid Sciences, LLC
102 Magnate St.
Lafayette, LA 70508

Prepared by:
Humboldt Mfg. Co.
7300 West Agatite
Norridge, IL 60706

1
Fluid Sciences is a start-up company that has developed an organic polymer
system to compete with other non-standard soil stabilization methods (e.g.,
cement & lime stone). Their system is substantially lower in time and cost
to utilize than competing methods. It has seen use in the southern US over
the last few years. They are involved in the CERF/HITECH program and
other efforts to market the system nationally. What they lack is a method to
demonstrate that the system actually stiffens the soil. In fact, there is
currently no method for demonstrating that any system actually stiffens the
soil. Humboldt assisted them in demonstrating such a method during 12 to
15 July.

Three days of spatially testing several secondary streets in LaFourge Parish,

LA revealed steady stiffening while density and moisture content remained
constant (Figure 1). Testing occurred on a soil/aggregate base that was
rehabilitated using polymer stabilization. The cure rate at each test site was
consistent if not predictable (Figure 2). The results demonstrated the
GeoGauge's potential for evaluating the performance of polymer-stabilized
bases.

2
 Figure 1

Performance vs. Time

30
Stiffness
% Increase re Day #1 25 Dry Density

Moisture Content
20
Log. (Stiffness)

Linear (Dry Density)

15
Linear (Moisture
Content)
10

0
0 1 2 3 4
Day

Figure 2

Cure Rate: Polymer Stabilized Base

30
y = 2.395Ln(x) + 23.103
2
R = 0.9709
25 y = 3.4904Ln(x) + 19.949
2
R = 0.9965
Stiffness, MN/m

y = 2.5539Ln(x) + 19.308
20 2
R = 0.9998
y = 3.2707Ln(x) + 17.013
2
R = 0.7744
15

118th St., Station 5+97.52

10
118th St., Station 1+87.50
Ave. A, Station 4+15.20
5 120th st., Station 5+10.98
0 1 2 3 4 Log. (118th St., Station
1+87.50)
Day Log. (118th St., Station
5+97.52)
Log. (120th st., Station
5+10.98)
Log. (Ave. A, Station
4+15.20)