Scribd
Upload
32 views19 pages

Lecture 6 - Emprical Pavement Design - Subgrade

The document discusses subgrade design for pavements. It defines design depth as the depth from the finished road level to the depth where soil no longer affects pavement performance under traffic loads. Subgrade soil properties including strength are classified using soil surveys involving trial pits along the road centerline. The CBR design value represents the strength specified for pavement design. Improved subgrade layers with a minimum CBR of 15% or 7% are used to strengthen weak subgrades and protect underlying soils. The roadbed is prepared by scarifying, mixing, and compacting the top 150mm.

Uploaded by

Prince Henry
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
32 views19 pages

Lecture 6 - Emprical Pavement Design - Subgrade

The document discusses subgrade design for pavements. It defines design depth as the depth from the finished road level to the depth where soil no longer affects pavement performance under traffic loads. Subgrade soil properties including strength are classified using soil surveys involving trial pits along the road centerline. The CBR design value represents the strength specified for pavement design. Improved subgrade layers with a minimum CBR of 15% or 7% are used to strengthen weak subgrades and protect underlying soils. The roadbed is prepared by scarifying, mixing, and compacting the top 150mm.

Uploaded by

Prince Henry
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

SUBGRADE

Dr. E Fungo
University of Dar es Salaam
Design Depth
Design depth is the depth from the finished road
level to the depth that the load bearing strength of
the soil no longer has an effect on the pavement’s
performance in relation to traffic loading

23/06/2020 2
Design Depth

23/06/2020 3
Subgrade Classes

23/06/2020 4
Centerline Soil Survey

 Subgrade soils and their properties,


including strength shall be classified based
on soil survey by the use of trial pits
excavated along the road centreline

23/06/2020 5
Design CBR
 The CBR design is the CBR values of an homogeneous
section for which the subgrade strength is specified into
S3, S7 or S15 for the purpose of pavement design.

23/06/2020 6
Note: Read Appendix A8, example A8-2
Depth of investigations
 Soil surveys shall be planned and conducted in a
manner that classifies all materials according to
their suitability in load bearing layers within the
zone of the design depth
 A preliminary vertical alignment shall be assumed
at the time of soil survey in order to ensure that
soil samples for subgrade classifications are
actually taken at levels that fall within the design
depth of the road

23/06/2020 7
Depth of investigations
 Investigations shall be extended to below-
design depth as required to detect problems that
need special consideration such as:
1. Presence of problem soils
2. Unfavourable subgrade conditions
3. Features associated with slope and
embankment stability

23/06/2020 8
Depth of investigations
 Investigations in cuttings: Excavation of sample
pits may be impractical in cuts deeper than 3
metres, where special equipment may have to be
employed. If possible, postponement of sampling
until the time of construction should be considered
under such conditions
 Embankment areas: Evaluation of subgrade
strength in embankment areas shall be based on
the best possible information about likely sources
of earthworks fill materials for use within the
design depth
23/06/2020 9
Materials testing frequency
Test pits shall be excavated for the purpose of sampling
the subgrade along the road line
Road type Indicator CBR strength Minimum number of
testing* testing CBR tests for any
homogenous section
Min. for Absolute
statistical minimum
analysis
Paved trunk roads Min 4 per km Min 2 per km
Other paved roads Min 2 per km Min 1 per km
Gravel roads Min 2 per km Min 1 per 2km 5 3

* Atterberg limits & grading


23/06/2020 10
Laboratory Testing
 CBR measurements in the laboratory shall be
carried out at minimum three density values to
give a CBR - Density relationship for the material
 The CBR value is determined at the nominal field
density specified for the respective earthworks
operations, as set out in table (next slide)

23/06/2020 11
Laboratory Testing

23/06/2020 12
Improved Subgrade Layers (1)
 All subgrade shall be brought to a strength of CBR
minimum 15% by constructing one or more
improved subgrade layers where necessary
 The use of improved subgrade layers has the
following advantages:
1. Provision of a deeper pavement structure, having
advantages under given conditions such as occurrence of
heavy axle loads in the traffic stream
2. Protection of earthworks below
3. Provision of a running surface for the traffic during
construction
23/06/2020 13
Improved Subgrade Layers (2)
4. Improved compaction of pavement layers above
5. Provision of homogenous subgrade strength
6. The improved subgrade acts as a filter layer between
pavement layers and poorer soils below
7. Provision of a gravel wearing surface in the case of stage
construction for future upgrading to a bitumen surfaced
road
8. Economical use of local materials

23/06/2020 14
Design of improved subgrade

23/06/2020 15
Material characteristics
 Soils used in improved subgrade layers shall be non-expansive, non-
dispersive and free from any deleterious matter
 Laboratory test results shall meet the requirements in table below
S15 S7
CBR [%], wet or moderate Min. 15 after 4 Min. 7 after 4
climatic zones days soaking days soaking
CBR [%], dry climatic zones Min. 15 at OMC Min. 7 at OMC
(both requirements shall be met) Min. 7 after 4 days Min. 3 after 4
soaking days soaking
CBR-swell [%] Max. 1.5 Max. 2.5
P1 [%] Max 25 Max 30
Max particle size, dmax 2/3 of layer 2/3 of layer
23/06/2020
thickness thickness 16

Compacted layer thickness [mm] Max 250 Max 250


Material characteristics
 Dump rock (DR) is  Dump rock can be
un-graded waste used as improved
rock where the subgrade when
content of fines is constructed in
sufficiently low so sufficient thick layer
that the larger
particles rest against
each other when
placed in earthworks
layers
23/06/2020 17
Fill

 Soils used in the fill shall be non-expansive,


non- dispersive and free from any
deleterious matters

23/06/2020 18
Roadbed Preparation
 After clearing of all topsoil, the roadbed
shall be scarified to a depth of 150mm,
mixed and compacted
 The compaction requirements depend
on the level of the roadbed in relation to
the formation level

23/06/2020 19

You might also like