Subgrade Strength

Subgrade (SG) Soil Strength

The main factors affecting SG strength are: Particle Size: SG strength increase with the increase in particle size,
Bulk Density: SG strength increase with the increase of its bulk
density which increase with compaction,
Moisture Content: SG strength increase with the decrease of moisture,
Permeability: SG strength increase with the increase of its permeability, but
Uniform grade are more permeable than well graded but well graded SG are stronger.
Well graded allows the voids between particle are filled with smaller particles which

give strength.
Uniform graded give large voids which increase permeability but reduce its strength.

Measuring of SG Soil Strength

Shear strength parameters (soil cohesion value and angle of friction), modulus of
subgrade reaction and/or CBR values are used to describe SG strength. Four
groups are used include shear tests, bearing tests, penetration tests, and cyclic
tests.
Group I: Shear Tests
It used to determine shear characteristics of soil at a point such as:
- Triaxial compaction (lab test) to determine, (C, )
- Unconfined compaction test (lab test),
- Direct shear test (lab test), granular soil,
- Van shear test (field test).

Triaxial compaction
(Using Mohrs Circle)

Direct shear test

Measuring of SG Soil Strength

Group II: Bearing Tests
- Plate loading test (field test) to determine the coefficient of subgrade reaction
(k, kg/cm3) )( which used for design of the rigid pavement.
The result of this test are expressed as a relation between the acting
compression load and resulting deflection. K = P/0.12 5
Stress, kg/cm2
P

0.125

Deflection , cm

Measuring of SG Soil Strength

Group III: Penetration Tests
- These types of tests, such as CBR tests, can be conducted in both the
lab and the field .

Compaction

Load

Immersion


( )OMC :
10 (< ,%)95 30 ( ,%)100-95 65
(>.%)100
.

( 2).
2.5 .
15
.
()0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.075 0.05 0.025.
.

( )P 0.2 &0.1 (.)Ps

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()CBR

()Inch
()PSI

0.1
1000

0.2
1500

0.3
1900

0.4
2300

0.50
2600
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Example
Pent. inch

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

(Soil A), %

550

700

800

850

900

(Soil B), %

210

500

700

800

850

Find CBR for two soils:

Draw the charts for two soils
Soil A:
CBR0.1 = (550/1000)*100 = 55%
CBR0.2 = (700/1500 )*100= 47%
Then CBR = 55%
Soil B:
CBR0.1 = (330/1000)*100 = 33%
CBR0.2 = (550/1500 )*100= 37%
Then Repeat the test to take the higher value
If it gives the same results
CBR = 37%

Measuring of SG Strength
Group IV: Cyclic Tests
- Is a lab tests conducted under cyclic loading to measure the SG
resilient modulus.
Mr = applied stress/elastic part of axial strain
Mr = 1500 CBR
CBR<10
Mr = (2550 3000) CBR0.65
CBR>10
Mr = 1155 + 55 (R-Value)
R<2

Compaction

GOOD COMPACTION LEADS

TO GOOD PERFORMANCE
12




-:
.
()Soil Strength
(.)Shear Strength



-:
.1 ()Sand Cone Test

.2 ()Proctor Test
.3 = ( /
)100 )(Proctor Test
.4 .%95

 ( )
Modified

Mould
()
()

( )3
()


()

152.4
116.43
2124
44.5
56
5
457

101.60
116.43
944
24.5
25
5
457

Standard

152.4
116.43
2124
44.5
56
3
305

101.60
116.43
944
24.5
25
3
305
16

4/3
( )7.
.
5 56 .


( )4 .
.
.
( )500
( )5 +110.
( % )2
.
.
17


w
1 + wc

=d

18

19

Standard

20

Modified


units

Gross wet mass

332.60

338.56

291.38

321.47

Gross dry mass

321.09

321.60

271.46

298.19

Moisture mass

11.51

16.96

19.92

23.28

Tare mass

28.20

28.59

26.14

28.48

Dry soil mass

292.89

293.01

245.32

269.71

Moisture content

3.93

5.79

8.12

8.63

units

Sample and mold mass

12141.00

12498.00

Mold mass,

7684.00

7684.00

7684.00

7684.00

Wet sample mass

4457.00

4814.00

4971.00

4869.00

g/cm3

2.12

2.29

2.36

2.31

3.93

5.79

8.12

8.63

2.04
2.60

2.16
2.65

2.19
2.70

2.13
2.70

Can No.

Mold No.

Wet density
Moisture content

Dry density
g/cm3
Gs Specific Gravity of Soil Solids
21

Mold Volume = 2104

12655.00 12553.00


2.40

DRY DENSITY (g/cm3)

2.30

2.20

2.185

2.163

2.130
2.10

2.038
2.00

1.90

1.80
0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00
MOISTURE CONTENT %

22

8.00

10.00

12.00


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