Characterization of granular materials for pavements

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 725-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nataatmadja ◽  
A. K. Parkin

For design and analysis of flexible pavements, a simple elastic model that does not require cumbersome calculation and also can rank materials according to their performance is clearly desirable. Early studies indicated that the resilient modulus of a granular material can be taken to be a function of the first invariant of stress, θ, although there is evidence that it is also dependent on the repeated deviator stress, qr. The limitations of some earlier models are discussed herein and a simple model for granular materials is proposed. The model is empirical in nature and based on repeated load triaxial testing with constant confining pressure. The application of this model in situations where the confining pressure is pulsed in phase with the deviator stress is also discussed. Key words: repeated load, triaxial test, resilient modulus, granular materials, modelling, pavement.

Author(s):  
Navneet Garg ◽  
Marshall R. Thompson

Six granular materials were used as base and subbase materials in the flexible pavement test sections for the Minnesota Road Research (Mn/ROAD) project. Crushed/fractured particles are not allowed in aggregate classes CL-1Fsp, CL-1Csp, CL-3sp, and CL-4sp. Ten to 15 percent crushed/fractured particles are required for CL-5sp. One hundred percent crushed/ fractured particles are required for CL-6sp. A comprehensive laboratory testing program was established to determine pertinent engineering properties of the granular materials. Rapid shear tests and repeated-load tests were conducted to determine the shear strength parameters (friction angle and cohesion), resilient modulus, rutting potential, stress history effects on shear strength, and moisture susceptibility. The results from the rapid shear tests and permanent deformation tests show that the rutting potential of a granular material can be characterized from rapid shear test at a confining pressure of 15 psi (103.35 kPa). The rutting parameter A was a function of the shear strength of the granular materials. The shear strength results obtained from rapid shear tests performed at a confining pressure of 15 psi reflect the rutting trends observed in the low-volume road test sections at the Mn/ROAD project. Results from repeated-load tests were used to develop the parameters for K-θ, UT-Austin, and Uzan’s models for evaluating the resilient modulus of granular materials. The axial strain values calculated from the resilient modulus models appear to be in good agreement with the measured axial strain values, except for the very low shear strength material CL-1Csp.


Author(s):  
Kazi Moinul Islam ◽  
Sarah Gassman ◽  
Md Mostaqur Rahman

The resilient modulus (MR) of subgrade material is an important parameter in pavement design using the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) and has a significant influence on pavement performance. MR can be obtained indirectly from falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data using a back-calculation tool (i.e., AASHTOWare 2017) or from empirical correlations with soil index properties. MR can also be obtained directly using repeated load triaxial tests (AASHTO T 307-99, 2017). In this study, the field test program included FWD tests and soil sampling. These field tests were performed on six asphalt pavement sections in South Carolina, U.S., to estimate the MR of the subgrade soil. This study involved extensive laboratory characterization of subgrade soils collected from underneath the pavement sections. Laboratory characterization included index tests (sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, moisture content, and standard Proctor density tests) on bulk samples and repeated load triaxial tests on thin-walled tube samples to obtain a direct measure of MR. Results show that the MR values found from the FWD data have similar trends to the laboratory-measured MR values. However, results from lab testing were 33%–75% lower than the back-calculated MR. Laboratory-measured MR, and back-calculated MR were used to determine a C-factor of 0.33, 0.25, and 0.29 for coarse-grained, fine-grained, and all types of soils, respectively. This parameter can be used to estimate resilient modulus for MEPDG Level 2 design inputs across South Carolina and similar geologic regions. The research studies will be facilitated by the local calibration and implementation of the MEPDG.


Author(s):  
Mingu Kang ◽  
Joon Han Kim ◽  
Issam I. A. Qamhia ◽  
Erol Tutumluer ◽  
Mark H. Wayne

This paper describes the use of the bender element (BE) shear wave measurement technology for quantifying the effectiveness of geogrid stabilization of unbound aggregate materials with improved mechanical properties from repeated load triaxial testing. Crushed stone aggregate specimens were prepared with three different gradations, that is, upper bound (UB), mid-range engineered (ENG), and lower bound, according to the dense graded base course gradation specification in Illinois. The specimens were compacted at modified Proctor maximum dry densities and optimum moisture contents. Two geogrids with different triaxial aperture sizes were placed at specimen mid-height, and unstabilized specimens with no geogrid were also prepared for comparison. To measure shear wave velocity, three BE pairs were placed at different heights above geogrid. Repeated load triaxial tests were conducted following the AASHTO T307 standard resilient modulus test procedure, while shear wave velocity was measured from the installed BE pairs. After initial specimen conditioning, and at low, intermediate, and high applied stress states, both the resilient moduli and accumulated permanent strains were determined to relate to the geogrid local stiffening effects in the specimens quantified by the measured shear wave velocities. The resilient modulus and shear wave velocity trends exhibited a directly proportional relationship, whereas permanent strain and shear wave velocity values were inversely related. The enhancement ratios calculated for the geogrid stabilized over the unstabilized specimens showed significant improvements in mechanical behavior for the UB and ENG gradations, and a maximum enhancement was achieved for the engineered gradation specimens stabilized with the smaller aperture geogrid.


Author(s):  
Anand J. Puppala ◽  
Aravinda M. Ramakrishna ◽  
Laureano R. Hoyos

Three chemical stabilization methods—sulfate resistant cement (Type V), low-calcium fly-ash (Class F) mixed with sulfate resistant cement (Type V), and ground granulated blast furnace slag—were used in a series of repeated load triaxial tests on clayey soil to assess the effectiveness of these three stabilizers in enhancing resilient modulus ( MR) properties of the soil. MR results were measured from repeated load triaxial tests conducted on both control and treated soils at optimum moisture content levels. Test results were analyzed to understand the potentials of each stabilizer on MR response of the soils and to study the effects of confining and deviatoric stresses on resilient response of the treated soils. Mechanisms for MR enhancements in treated soils were developed, and a series of flexible pavement design exercises was conducted to evaluate the impact of each stabilizer on the design thickness of the asphalt surface layer of pavements.


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