Research & Innovation

Design Guidance and Best Practices for the Use of Light Fill

Summary:

Lightweight Fill (LWF) materials, such as Tire Derived Aggregates (TDAs), expanded shale/clay, foamed glass, and recycled glass aggregates, offer significant potential for sustainable road construction. However, there are still substantial gaps in understanding their environmental impacts, long-term performance, and specific construction techniques required for successful implementation. The performance of LWF materials in Minnesota’s unique climate—characterized by freeze-thaw cycles and high groundwater levels—remains underexplored. Furthermore, concerns about leachate production, potential trench settlement, and challenges in adopting LWF materials by local road departments call for a detailed investigation. This research aims to address these gaps by conducting a comprehensive review of existing practices, evaluating the environmental and mechanical performance of LWF materials, and providing data-driven recommendations for their use in road construction.

Final Deliverables:

Related Materials:

Related Research:

• Updating MnDOT Guidance for Using Shredded Tires in Roadway Construction

Project Personnel:

Principal Investigator:  Michele Lanotte
Co-Principal Investigator:  Angela Farina
Technical Liaison:  Andrew Witter
Project Coordinator:  Jackie Jiran
Panel Members: 
    Blake Nelson - Materials & Road Research
    Ceren Aydin - Materials & Road Research
    Emil Bautista - Materials & Road Research
    Lee Bjerke - Iowa DOT
    Mike Reif - WSB
    Paul Sandy - City of Brainerd
    Raul Velasquez - Materials & Road Research