Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Construction techniques for the Taklamakan Desert Highway: research on the construction materials and the results of field tests

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

After conducting many laboratory and field experiments, several key technical issues related to the construction of China’s Taklamakan Desert Highway have been satisfactorily resolved. In particular, considerable progress has been made on the dry compaction of a sand sub-base, road design parameters, the creation of a structure that combines a sub-grade and asphalt pavement, analysis of the stability of a sand sub-base strengthened with geotextiles, and on the development of a complete set of construction techniques. The achievements of this research were successfully applied for the first time in the Taklamakan Desert, where the environmental conditions are extremely harsh. The results suggest that the construction of this highway was economical and that the simple construction methods produced a reliable highway. The resulting highway is believed to be the world’s first long-distance graded highway running through a huge desert with migrating dunes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Cao S, Zhang Z (1985) Study on compaction of sub-grade with anemoarenyte. Highway (in Chinese, with title translated by the authors) 7:22–25

    Google Scholar 

  • China Ministry of Communication (CMC) (1986) Design Specifications of Highway Asphalt Surface, JTJ014-86 (in Chinese, with title translated by the authors). People’s Communication Press, Beijing

  • Ding T (1989) Practices of highway construction in the desert areas of Northern Shaanxi. Northwest Highway (in Chinese, with title translated by the authors) 4:21–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Garlos J, Horta OS (1991) Highway design and construction in northwest of the Sahara Desert. World Desert Study 10:14–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarim Petroleum Exploitation Authority (TPEA) (1996) Tarim Desert Petroleum Highway (in Chinese, with title translated by the authors) Petroleum Industry Press, Beijing

  • Xinjiang Communications Research Institute (XCRI) (1993), Report on Highway Construction Techniques in Desert Areas of Xinjiang (in Chinese, with title translated by the authors) Urumqi, Xinjiang

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the funding from the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences through Grant KZCX3-SW-341 and the Major Scientific Research Projects of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China through Grant No. 913210469.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China

    Changning Jin

  2. Xinjiang Communications Research Institute, 830000, Urumqi, China

    Changning Jin

  3. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 260, West Donggang Road, 730000, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

    Zhibao Dong

  4. Xinjiang High Grade Highway Administration Bureau, 830001, Urumqi, China

    Zhinong Li

Authors
  1. Changning Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhibao Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhinong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhibao Dong.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jin, C., Dong, Z. & Li, Z. Construction techniques for the Taklamakan Desert Highway: research on the construction materials and the results of field tests. Environ Geol 49, 915–922 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0123-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0123-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation