Topic 5 – Material Characterization

1. Introduction
Pavement design inputs covered in previous topics:
• Predicted stresses and strains – load magnitude
• Traffic – load cycles
Material Characterization
What material properties have we used up to now?

Dr. Christos Drakos • Most paving materials are not elastic, but experience some
permanent deformation after each load application
• If the load is small compared to the strength of the material
University of Florida and is repeated for a large number of times, the deformation
is almost recoverable and can be considered elastic

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

Resilient Modulus (MR) Typical Flexible Pavement Structure

Type and duration of loading

AC
Decreasing
BASE COURSE
is supposed to simulate that Stiffness
Load

occurring in the field SUBBASE COURSE (Optional)

Time SUBGRADE (SOIL)

1. Surface Course
Deformation

• Layer that comes to contact with traffic; normally contains the highest
quality material
εr σ 2. Base
MR = d
εr • Provides additional load distribution and contributes to drainage and
εp frost resistance
Time 3. Subbase (optional)
• Functions primarily as structural support but it can also help with
drainage and frost action
4. Subgrade
• Native soil – the only non-engineered material in the pvt structure

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

Subgrade performance generally depends on: Subgrade Seasonal Variations

1. Load bearing capacity; subgrade must be able to support
loads passed on from the pavement structure MR
2. Moisture content; it tends to affect a number of subgrade
properties including load bearing capacity 50,000 psi
3. Shrinkage and/or swelling; some soils shrink or swell Frozen MR
depending upon their moisture content
Remedies for poor subgrade conditions: Normal MR
1. Remove and replace; subgrade soil can be removed and
replaced with higher quality fill
Thaw MR
2. Stabilization; adding an appropriate binder – such as lime,
portland cement or emulsified asphalt – can increase
subgrade stiffness and/or reduce swelling tendencies Freeze Thaw Recovery Normal Time
3. Additional base layers; include a subbase, or increase Time Time Time Time
thickness of base Total Time = 12 Months
Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization
2. Design Resilient Modulus (Base & Subgrade) 2.1.1 California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
2.1 Correlations • Basically a penetration test
Maybe there is information • Piston penetrates soil at constant rate – 0.05 in/min
already available
• Pressure is recorded
• Take the ratio to the bearing capacity of a standard rock
• Range: 0 (worst) – 100 (best)

Pressure to cause 0.1” penetration to the sample

Also: CBR =
• MR=1500(CBR) Pressure to cause 0.1” penetration for standard rock
• MR=1155+555(R)

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.1.1 California Bearing Ratio (CBR) 2.1.1 California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

Deflection dial (loading) General Soil Type USC Soil Type CBR Range
GW 40 - 80
Piston
GP 30 - 60
Surcharge
GM 20 - 60
(confinement)
GC 20 - 40
Coarse-grained soils
Deflection dial SW 20 - 40
(swelling) SP 10 - 40
SM 10 - 40
SC 5 - 20
ML 15 or less
Proctor
Sample 4.5” CL LL < 50% 15 or less
OL 5 or less
Fine-grained soils
MH 10 or less
CH LL > 50% 15 or less
OH 5 or less

6” Ø

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.1.2 Stabilometer (R-value) 2.1.2 Stabilometer (R-value)

• Resistance value of a soil determined by stabilometer 160 psi

• Closed-system Triaxial test
• Apply vertical pressure Pressure Gauge Testing
Apply the vertical
• Measure horizontal pressure induced in the fluid Head
pressure and then
measure the resulting
100 Sample horizontal pressure
R = 100 − Fluid under
⎛ 2.5 ⎞ ⎛ pv ⎞ pressure
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ × ⎜⎜ − 1⎟⎟ + 1 Bottom 100
R = 100 −
⎝ D2 ⎠ ⎝ ph ⎠ Plunger ⎛ 2 .5 ⎞ ⎛ p v ⎞
⎜⎜ D ⎟⎟ × ⎜⎜ p − 1 ⎟⎟ + 1
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ h ⎠
pv & ph = Vertical and horizontal pressure respectively 160 psi
D2 = displacement of stabilometer fluid to increase ph from 5 to
100 psi, measured in revolutions of a calibrated pump handle
Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization
2.2 In-situ Testing (Plate Loading Test) 2.2 In-situ Testing (Plate Loading Test)
• Circular plate 30 in Ø; series of plates used to minimize
bending
• Apply load at constant rate to reach 10 psi
• Pressure held constant until the deflection increases no more Reaction (Steel Beam)
than 0.001 in/min for three consecutive minutes
• Use average dial reading to determine the deflection Pressure Gauge
Deflection Dial @ 1/3 Points
p Hydraulic Jack
k=
∆ ∆

k = Modulus of subgrade reaction p

p = pressure on the plate (10 psi) k=
∆ = deflection of the plate ∆
Figure 7.36 – Correlation of k with MR

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.3 Laboratory Testing (Triaxial Test) 2.3 Laboratory Testing (Triaxial Test)

σ1
In Triaxial cell
Sample (cylinder): σ2=σ3
σ3

σ3
σ1 σd σ2

= Confining Pressure (σ2,σ3) What can affect the results?

= Deviator Stress (σd) Level of confinement
Deviator Stress:
Axial stress in excess of the State of confinement
confining pressure in Triaxial cell defined by the first invariant
σ d = σ1 −σ 3 θ = σ1 + σ 2 + σ 3

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.3.1 Triaxial Test – Granular Material 2.3.1 Triaxial Test – Granular Material
• For Granular subgrade: Sample Conditioning
– MR = function (confinement) MR = k1 × θ k2 1. Set the confining pressure to 5 psi, and apply a deviator
– k1 & k2 experimentally determined values stress of 5 psi, and then 10 psi, each for 200 repetitions
2. Set the confining pressure to 10 psi, and apply a deviator
Run Triaxial test at certain levels of confining pressure and stress of 10 psi, and then 15 psi, each for 200 repetitions
vary the deviator stress. (Example 7.2 Huang) 3. Set the confining pressure to 15 psi, and apply a deviator
stress of 15 psi, and then 20 psi, each for 200 repetitions
log MR, psi

Resilient Modulus Test

k2
After sample conditioning the resilient modulus test follows a
constant confining pressure-increasing deviator sequence, and
k1 x
the results are recorded at the 200th repetition of each deviator
stress
log θ, psi
Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization
2.3.1 Triaxial Test – Granular Material 2.3.1 Triaxial Test – Granular Material
Test Procedure Confining
Pressure, σ3
Deviator
Stress, σd
Recoverable
Deformation
Recoverable
Strain, εr
Resilient
Modulus, MR
Stress
Invariant, θ

1. Set the confining pressure to 20 psi, and apply a deviator (psi) (psi)
1
(mils)
0.264
(µε)
66
(psi)
15151.5
(psi)
61

stress of 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 psi 20

2
5
0.496
1.184
124
296
16129.0
16891.9
62
65

2. Reduce the confining pressure to 15 psi, and apply a 10

15
2.284
3.428
571
857
17513.1
17502.9
70
75

deviator stress of 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 psi 20

1
4.420
0.260
1105
65
18099.5
15384.6
80
46
Recoverable Deformation
3. Reduce the confining pressure to 10 psi, and apply a 15
2
5
0.512
1.300
128
325
15625.0
15384.6
47
50 εr =
Gage Distance (4)
deviator stress of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 psi
10 2.500 625 16000.0 55
15 3.636 909 16501.7 60
σd
4. Reduce the confining pressure to 5 psi, and apply a deviator
20 4.572 1143 17497.8 65
1 0.324 81 12345.7 31 MR =
εr
stress of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 psi
2 0.672 168 11904.8 32
10 5 1.740 435 11494.3 35
ϑ = σ d + 3σ3
5. Reduce the confining pressure to 1 psi, and apply a deviator
10 3.636 909 11001.1 40
15 3.872 968 15495.9 45
1 0.508 127 7874.0 16
stress of 1, 2, 5, 7.5, and 10 psi; stop the test after 200 2 0.988 247 8097.2 17
5 5 2.224 556 8992.8 20
repetitions of the last deviator stress level or when the 10 3.884 971 10298.7 25
15 5.768 1442 10402.2 30
specimen fails 1 0.636 159 6289.3 4
2 0.880 220 9090.9 5
1 5 2.704 676 7396.4 8
7.5 3.260 815 9202.5 10.5
10 4.440 1110 9009.0 13

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.3.1 Triaxial Test – Granular Material 2.3.2 Triaxial Test – Cohesive Material
100000
• For Fine-grained (cohesive) subgrade:
– MR = function (deviator stress, σd)
– k1, k2, k3 & K4 experimentally determined values
Resilient Modulus, MR (psi)

10000
Run Triaxial tests at certain values of deviator stress and vary
the confining pressure. (Example 7.3 Huang)

M R = k1 + k3 (k 2 − σ d ) ∀σ d < k 2
MR, psi

1000
1 10 100
k3 M R = k1 + k 4 (σ d − k 2 ) ∀σ d > k 2
y = 3686x0.3511 Stress Invariant, θ (psi)

k4
k1
M R = 3686 × θ0.351
k2 σd, psi

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

2.3.3 Asphalt Institute Subgrade Characterization 2.3.4 Granular material example
• To determine subgrade MR, Asphalt Institute
suggests:
– Confining stress σ3 = σ2 = 2 psi
– Deviator stress σd = σ1 - σ3 = 6 psi
M R = k1 ⋅ θ k 2
• For granular material: k2 = 0.35 = 3960 ⋅120.35
– For example use data from Fig 7.8
= 9449.5
• For fine-grained material:
– For example use data from Fig 7.9 k1 = 3960
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
2.3.5 Fine-grained material example
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
3. Hot-Mix Asphalt (cont.)
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
4.2 Stabilized Granular Base
Bituminous Treated
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
3. Hot-Mix Asphalt
σd > k2 3.1 Structural Layer Coefficient
• Used in AASHTO design procedure
• Describes the quality of the material
• Function of MR & position in the pavement Why?
M R = k1 + k 4 (σ d − k 2 )
3.2 Marshall Test
= 5600 + 388(6 − 5.2)
= 5910 • Used in the Marshall Mix Design procedure
• Performed on cylindrical specimens
• Measure Stability (fail load) and Flow (deformation)
3.3 Cohesiometer Test
• Used to measure the cohesion of cemented materials
• Apply load at controlled rate until failure
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
4. Bases
4.1 Untreated Granular Base
Topic 5 – Material Characterization
5. Sub-Bases
Cement Treated
Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization
6. Drainage 6.2 Sources of water:
Important to keep water away from the pavement structure i. Seepage
ii.Raise of water table
6.1 Detrimental effects of water:
iii.
Infiltration
• Reduces strength of unbound material & subgrade iv.From proximity of water table
• Causes pumping, faulting, cracking & shoulder deterioration – Capillary moisture held in the pores from surface tension
• Pore-pressure increase Æ Pumping of fines Æ Loss of v. Vapor movement
support – Movement of water associated with fluctuating
– Load goes over saturated base & soil temperature and pressure
– Pore-pressure increases
– Water is incompressible; moves up
• Causes heaving – swelling of soils
• Pore-pressure within the AC layer causes stripping, durability
cracking
• Frost action (in Northern climates)

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

6.2 Sources of water: 6.3 Protecting the Pavement Structure:
Need to minimize availability of water
Can be
• Impervious surface/shoulders. How? (sealants) performed
• Drainage to remove water quickly Æ (Ditch) after
• Drainage layer for subsurface water construction

Design phase / Construction

Three drainage installations for subsurface water:

1. Drainage layer or blanket
2. Longitudinal drain
3. Transverse drain

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

6.4 Drainage Deficiencies for Pavements with Ditch 6.4.2 Water infiltrating from rutted shoulder
6.4.1 Typical Pavement with a Ditch

6.4.3 Water infiltrating due to debris caused ponding

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization
6.4.4 Water infiltrating due to differential settlement 6.5 Subsurface Drainage
6.5.1 Drainage layer / Blanket

Base Course as
drainage layer

Topic 5 – Material Characterization Topic 5 – Material Characterization

6.5.2 Longitudinal drainage 6.5.3 Transverse drainage
Same concept as longitudinal drainage, but in this case the
drainage runs across the lanes
Where would we use the transverse drain?