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Types of soil tests for road construction project requires the site investigation to be
carried out to understand the soil profile. For road construction works, the properties of
soil at subgrade level are required.
The common soil test for road construction includes classification of soil, particle size
distribution, moisture content determination, specific gravity, liquid limit and plastic limit
tests. Moisture content, particle size and specific gravity tests on soils are used for the
calculation of soil properties such as degree of saturation.
The soil tests can be laboratory tests or in-situ tests. The laboratory tests should be carried
out on every sample taken for determination of particle size and moisture content.
The degree of is measured in terms of its dry density of soil. The dry density is maximum
at the optimum water content.
The CBR test is used for the evaluation of subgrade strength of roads and pavements. The
CBR value obtained by this test is used with the empirical curves to determine the
thickness of pavement and its component layers. This is the most widely used method for
the design of flexible pavement.
Even though provision of subsoil drains reduces the effect of water on subgrade, fully
soaked CBR tests shall be considered to be appropriate for road construction projects.
Following points should be taken care of while soil testing for road construction:
o Sampling and Testing: Sampling of soil for tests in laboratory or in-situ is to be carefully done
by experienced engineer. The requirement for the various mass / volume of soil at different
points of a road project shall be followed as per the specification and standard codes.
o Test Data Logging: Logging of all the soil sample and test data shall be done by trained staff
who has the knowledge of soil properties and tests results.
o Testing Frequency: The testing frequency of soil shall be as per input from Engineer. The
decision on the testing frequency is usually taken on the basis of results obtained from the
previous tests.
Read More:
Types of Soil Tests for Building Construction
Soil Tests Required for Deep Foundations
Soil Tests Required for Shallow and Raft Foundations