LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PROBLEMS WITH

PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF HIGHWAY PAVEMENT IN

INDONESIA DUE TO EXCESSIVE LOADING ON HEAVY
VEHICLES
Indrasurya B. Mochtar
Civil Engineering Department
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya

ABSTRACT
Many major highways in Indonesia are subjected to premature deterioration, well
ahead of their designed life. This condition is primarily caused by the habit of road
users to load heavy trucks excessively. In this paper, the three major issues emanating
from this problem of over-loading on commercial trucks are discussed thoroughly,
which are : the problem in determining the total Damage Factors - or the Equivalent
Standard Axle Load - of the pavement during the design life, the problem with over
inflation of tire pressures of the heavy trucks, and the problem with the existing
pavement design standard and code which are no longer suitable for the over-loading
condition. It is also described the lessons learned, and the comprehensive solutions of
the above problems are suggested to the Government of Indonesia and the local
government as the action plan to remedy the situation.
Key words :
Highway pavement design, premature deterioration, excessive loading of trucks,
Pavement Damage Factors, habit of road users, correction on pavement design
standard and code, solution to pavement problems.

Area of interest : Highway Pavement Engineering

Address of the Author :

Prof. Ir. H. Indrasurya B. Mochtar M.Sc., PhD.

Jurusan Teknik Sipil, FTSP-ITS
Komplek ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia
Phone : 62-31-594-6094 and 62-31-599-7152
Fax
: 62-31-594-7284
e-mail : indramochtar@yahoo.com

SUGGESTED EMPIRICAL METHODS TO ESTIMATE THE

STRENGTH AND CONSOLIDATION PARAMETERS FOR
TROPICAL ALLUVIAL SOFT SOILS IN-SITU
Indrasurya B. Mochtar
Civil Engineering Department
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya

ABSTRACT
The laboratory tests to obtain the strength and consolidation parameters of soil in-situ
are both difficult and time consuming, and they are relatively expensive to perform.
However, very often the results are not representative to the real condition in-situ. The
soil samples taken are either already significantly disturbed, or they are handled
inappropriately. Furthermore, in many remote region of a country, field boring for soil
samples is very difficult to perform. Therefore, more practical methods are really
sought after. In this paper, it is suggested the empirical methods to estimate the
strength and consolidation parameters of tropical alluvial soils typical of those in
Java, Indonesia. The correlation are obtained from hundreds of soil data obtained
from various boreholes and DCPT tests from around the soft soils of Surabaya, and
from several research results done in laboratory.
Key words :
Empirical soil strength parameters, empirical soil consolidation parameters, tropical
alluvial soft soils, in-situ soil parameters, engineering of soft soils.

Area of interest : Geotechnical Engineering

Address of the Author :

Prof. Ir. H. Indrasurya B. Mochtar M.Sc., PhD.

Jurusan Teknik Sipil, FTSP-ITS
Komplek ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia
Phone : 62-31-594-6094 and 62-31-599-7152
Fax
: 62-31-594-7284
e-mail : indramochtar@yahoo.com

Suggested Empirical Formula to Predict Creep Settlement of

Friction Piles in Clay Based on Field Loading Test Data
Indrasurya B. Mochtar
Civil Engineering Department
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya

Yusti Yudiawati
Civil Engineering Department
State Polytechnics of Banjarmasin
ABSTRACT

The friction piles of pile foundation in clay derive most of their support from
frictional resistance of soils along the pile shafts. As opposed to the end-bearing piles,
the friction piles are less popular in usage due to the possible occurrence of creep
settlement when subjected to constant loading. Based on several field loading tests
performed previously, i.e. Yudianto and Mochtar (2001), Yudiawati and Mochtar
(2003), and from other most recent tests, the empirical formula to predict creep
settlement of friction pile in clay is given as improvement of the original formula by
Mochtar (1985). It is also suggested the provisions in using friction piles in clay, when
creep settlement is to be kept minimum.
Key words :
Pile foundation, friction piles, creep settlement, field loading test, foundation on clay.

Area of interest : Geotechnical Engineering

Address of First Author : Prof. Ir. H. Indrasurya B. Mochtar M.Sc., PhD.
Jurusan Teknik Sipil, FTSP-ITS
Komplek ITS Sukolilo, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia
Phone : 62-31-594-6094 and 62-31-599-7152
Fax
: 62-31-594-7284
e-mail : indramochtar@yahoo.com