Pavement Engineering

4300:565
Assignment #4
Spring 2014

SUBMITTED BY
Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
Student Id: 2824475
PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 1

The data shown below was obtained during a CBR test. Given that the piston has
a cross-sectional area of 3.0 in2.

Penetration (in) 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Piston Load (lb) 30 90 195 300 450 525 600

a) What is the CBR of this soil?

b) Estimate the resilient modulus of the soil (based on the 1993 AASHTO, ODOT, and
MEPDG Mr versus CBR models).

Solution

a)

Penetration
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
(in)
Piston Load
30 90 195 300 450 525 600
(lb)
Piston
10 30 65 100 150 175 200
Stress (psi)

Stress vs Original Penetration

250

200

150
Stress

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55
Original Penetration

Corrected
Penetration 0 0.035 0.085 0.135 0.235 0.335 0.435
(in)
Stress (psi) 0 30 65 100 150 175 200

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Stress vs Corrected Penetration

250

200

150
Stress

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Corrected Penetration

CBR (0.1) = 75/1000x100 = 7.5%

CBR (0.2) = 135/1500x100 = 9%
So, Final CBR = 9%

b) Mr1993 AASHTO = 1500 x CBR = 1500x9 = 13500psi

MrODOT = 1200 x CBR = 1200x9 = 10800psi
MrMEPDG = 2555 x CBR0.64 = 2555x90.64 = 10425.72psi

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 2

The shown data below was obtained during plate load test. The plate had a diameter
of 30 in.

Deflection (mm) 4 8 10 13 17 19 23 26 32 39
390 1020
Plate Load (lb) 1200 2900 5000 6700 7700 9100 11400 13300
0 0

a) What is the k value for this soil?

b) What is the elastic modulus of the soil (assuming Poisson’s ratio is 0.5)?

Solution

a)

Deflection
4 8 10 13 17 19 23 26 32 39
(mm)
Plate Load 1020
1200 2900 3900 5000 6700 7700 9100 11400 13300
(lb) 0
Deflection
0.157 0.315 0.394 0.512 0.669 0.748 0.906 1.024 1.260 1.535
(inch)
Plate Stress
1.70 4.10 5.52 7.07 9.48 10.89 12.87 14.43 16.13 18.82
(psi)

Plate Stress vs Deflection

20.00
f(x) = 12.61 x + 0.62
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
Plate Stress

10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 0.800 1.000 1.200 1.400 1.600 1.800
Deflection

So, k value for the soil = 12.614

π k a (1−µ2) π x 12.614 x 15 x(1−0.52 )

b) Elastic Modulus =
2
= 2
= 222.91 psi

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 PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 3

The test procedure for the resilient modulus of unbound granular

base/subbase materials and subgrade soils is presented in
Appendix 2 of NCHRP 1-28A. Discuss this test in terms:
 Sample preparation and dimensions
 Confinement and axial stresses
 Measurement of stresses and strains
 Calculation of resilient modulus

Solution

Sample Preparation & Dimensions

No binding or stabilizing agent is used to prepare unbound granular base or

subbase layers
Unbound granular base and subbase materials and all untreated subgrade soils
with maximum particle sizes greater than 9.5 mm (0.375 in) and
material greater than 25.4 mm (1.0 in) shall be removed prior to
testing. These materials should be molded in 6 inch or 4 inch diameter
mold
or
Unbound granular base and subbase materials and all untreated subgrade soils
that have a maximum particle size less than 9.5 mm (0.375 in) and that
meet the criteria of less than 10% passing the 75mm (No. 200) sieve.
These materials should be molded in 4 inch diameter mold and
compacted by vibratory compactor
or
Untreated subgrade soils that have a maximum particle size less than 9.5 mm
(0.375 in) and that meet the criteria of more than 10% passing the
75mm (No. 200) sieve. These materials shall be molded in a 102-mm
(4-in) diameter mold and compacted by impact or kneading
compaction.
or
Includes thin-walled tube samples of untreated subgrade soils. These material
should be tested as 71-mm (2.8 in) diameter specimens

Confinement & Axial Stress

1. Confining pressure is denoted as S3 and is applied through cell air pressure.

2. The applied axial stress consists of contact stress denoted by S contact and cyclic stress
denoted by Scyclic
 Scyclic = Pcyclic / A
 Scontact = Pcontact / A
 Smax = Pmax / A

Where A is the initial cross-sectional area of the sample

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Measurements of Stress & Strains

1. For Stress, electronic load cell located inside the triaxial cell measures the load and
that load divided by area gives
2. For strain, deformation can be measured by
i. Optical extensometer
ii. Non contact sensors
iii. Clamps attached to the specimen of LVDTS
The deformations measured from above methods can be used to calculate strain

Calculation of Resilient Modulus

Resilient modulus can be calculated by

Scyclic / r
And also we have

Where,
MR = Resilient Modulus
 = Bulk Stress
 = 
τoct = Octahedral Shear Stress
Ki = regression constants
Pa = atmospheric pressure

Problem 4

Briefly discuss the effect of moisture content and water freezing on the resilient
modulus of soils.

Solution

The resilient modulus is highly dependent on the moisture content and compacted density of
the soil. Excessive moisture content decreases the resilient modulus of soil. But the rate of
decreasing depends on the aggregate type and the grain size distribution.

The resilient modulus of the soil increases as the pore water present inside the soil freezes.
The frozen water can bear some pressure itself hence increasing the resilient modulus of the
soil.

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 5

Which soil type(s) have the greatest potential to a) swell and b) frost heave?
Briefly discuss why.

Solution

Montmorrillonite clay and Bentonite has the greatest potential to swell. These soils typically
contain clay minerals that attract and absorb water and when water is introduced to these
soils, the water molecules are pulled into gaps between the soil plates.  As more water is
absorbed, the plates are forced further apart, leading to an increase in soil pore pressure
(Handy, 1995).  If this increased pressure exceeds surcharge pressure (including the weight of
the overlying pavement) the soil will expand in volume to a point where these pressures are
once again in balance.

Silty and loamy soil types have greatest potential to frost/heave. The heaving itself is caused
by the formation of ice lenses in the soil below the pavement. Water expands 9% by volume
when frozen. When the soil freezes, the free water freezes and expands. Free water migrates
through the soil to a forming ice lens by capillary action (akin to wicking). This migration of
water can be as far as 20 feet for certain frost susceptible soils.

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