INSTITUTE UIE

DEPARTMENT CIVIL ENGINEERING

Master of Engineering in transportation (Civil Engineering)
Subject Name – Pavement Materials
and Code- 21CET-647

Soil Tests DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

DR. MANJU SUTHAR
 Objective

Students
• will learn about various tests which were performed to check the
properties of soil to evaluate its bearing capacity .
So that we can built structure according to its capacity or take preventive
measures .

2 2
 Soil Related Tests

•
• Soil compaction
• Strength or stiffness of soils
• Laboratory
• Field

3 3
 Soil compaction

• Soil compaction is the process of “artificially” increasing the density

•
(unit weight) of a soil by compaction (by application of rolling,
tamping, or vibration).
• Standards are needed so that the amount of increased density needed
and achieved can be measured.
• Two compaction tests are commonly performed to achieve this
information.

4 4
 Soil Compaction: Moisture-Density Tests
• Moisture-density testing as practiced today was started by R.R. Proctor in
•
1933. His method became known as the “standard Proctor” test.
• This test (today described by ASTM D698 and AASHTO T99) applied a
fixed amount of compaction energy to a soil at various water contents.
Specifically, this involves dropping a 5.5 lb weight 12 inches and applying
25 “blows” per layer in 3 layers in a standard sized mold. Thus, 12,375 ft-
lb per ft3 of compaction effort is applied.

5 5
 Soil Compaction: Moisture-Density Tests

•• US Army Corps of Engineers developed “Modified Proctor” or “Modified

AASHTO” to accommodate compaction needs associated with heavier
aircraft used in WW 2.
• ASTM D1557 and AASHTO T180: “Laboratory Compaction Characteristics
of Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lb/ft3)”
• Refer to relative location of compaction curves on the next image. The higher
the compaction energy, the lower the optimum water content and the higher
the dry density.

6 6
 Typical Compaction Curves

Typical for Modified

Compaction
•

Typical for Standard

Dry Density Compaction
(lb/ft3)

Water Content (%)

7
 Soil Compaction—Typical Compaction
Specification
• Section 2-03.3(14)C, Method C: “Compacting Earth Embankments”
•
• “Each layer of the entire embankment shall be compacted to 95 percent of the
maximum density as determined by the compaction control tests described in
Section 2-03.3(14)D. In the top 2 feet, horizontal layers shall not exceed 4 inches
in depth before compaction. No layer below the top 2 feet shall exceed 8 inches in
depth before compaction.”….
• “Under Method C, the moisture content shall not vary more than 3 percent above
or below optimum determined by the tests in described in Section 2-03.3(14)D.”….
• Go to next image.

8 8
 Soil Compaction—Typical Compaction
Specification
•• Section 2-03.3(14)D: “Compaction and Moisture Control Tests”
• “The maximum density and optimum moisture for materials with less than 30
percent, by mass, retained on the US No.4 sieve shall be determined …[by]…
AASHTO T99.”
• The are many more requirements that relate to specifying soil compaction but these
two images provide a quick but focused example.

9 9
 Strength or Stiffness of Soils
• Typical tests of soil strength are:
•
• Shear strength tests
• Index types of tests
• California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
• Modulus of subgrade reaction (k)
• Stabilometer Test (Hveem method)
• Cone penetrometers
• Resilient modulus test
• CBR, R-value, cone penetrometers, and resilient modulus tests will be
briefly covered.

10 10
 California Bearing Ratio
•• The CBR test is a relative measure of shear strength for unstabilized
materials and the results are stated as a percentage of a high quality
crushed limestone—thus all results are shown as percentages. A CBR =
100% is near the maximum possible. CBRs of less than 10% are generally
weak soils.
• The test was originally developed by O. J. Porter of the California Division
of Highways in 1928. The widespread use of the CBR test was created by
the US Corps of Engineers during WW 2.

11 11
 California Bearing Ratio

• The CBR test can be reviewed in the WSDOT Pavement Guide, Module 4
•
(Design Parameters), Section 2
(Subgrade)--http://hotmix.ce.washington.edu/wsdot_web/index.htm
• The CBR test is only conducted on unstabilized materials (soils or
aggregates).
• The test is most always done in the laboratory; however, a field test is
available but rarely conducted.

12 12
 California Bearing Ratio

•
Test apparatus and specimen. Photo by ELE
International

Standard methods:
ASTM D1883, AASHTO T193.

13 13
 Correlations between CBR, AASHTO and Unified classification systems, the DCP, and k.

14
 R-value
• This test was developed in California by Hveem and Carmany in the late
•
1940’s.
• In effect, it is a relative measure of stiffness since the test apparatus
operates somewhat like a triaxial test.
• The test is mostly used by western states for highway base and subgrade
characterization.
• Use of this test is likely declining a bit.
• ASTM D2844 and AASHTO T190: “Resistance R-Value and Expansion
Pressure of Compacted Soils”

15 15
 Stabilometer Device (R-value)

16 16
 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)

•
• Originally developed in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). South
Africans have used and developed related tools and analyses for over 25
years.
• Standard test method
• ASTM D6951: “Use of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer in Shallow Pavement
Applications”
• Equipment can come with different hammer weights—which can effect
correlations.
• Equipment can be purchased from companies such as Salem Tool Co.,
Salem, MI; Kessler Soils Engineering Products, Inc; or Dynatest Inc for
about $1000--$2000.
17 17
 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)

•
• Standard test method
• ASTM D6951: “Use of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer in Shallow Pavement
Applications”
• Equipment can come with different hammer weights:
• 8 kg (17.6 lb.)
• 4.6 kg (10.1 lb.)
• USACE CBR—DCP correlations are contained in the ASTM standard test
method (see correlations in subsequent images).

18 18
 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
Positioning System
• Engine

Mass
Data Recorder

Rod

Reference

19
 DCP As Developed in the RSA
•

20
 DCP

•
• Examples of DCP use by the Minnesota DOT
• Pavement rehabilitation strategy determination.
• Locate layers in pavement structures.
• Supplement foundation testing for design.
• Identify weak spots in constructed embankments.
• Use as an acceptance testing tool.
• Location of boundaries of required subcuts.

21 21
 DCP

• • Assumption: A correlation exists between the strength of a

material and its resistance to penetration.
• Typical measure is DCP Penetration Index (DPI)
• Measured in mm/blow or inches/blow
• Maximum depth for the DCP  800 mm
• Correlations follow

22 22
 DCP (if CBR > 10) Correlation

•
• Correlation developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE)
292
CBR 
1.12
DPI
Where
CBR = California Bearing Ratio (if CBR > 10)
DPI = Penetration Index (mm/blow)

23 23
 DCP (if CBR < 10) Correlation
• • Correlation developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE)

1
CBR 
[(0.017019 )(DPI)] 2
Where
CBR = California Bearing Ratio (if CBR < 10)
DPI = Penetration Index (mm/blow)
24 24
 CBR Examples (based on USACE
Correlation)
•
DPI CBR
(mm/blow) (%)
5 48

10 22

20 10

25
 DCP Values and Subgrade Improvement
(Illinois DOT)
•

26
 DCP Correlation

•
• CBR Correlation developed in South Africa (for values of
DN>2 mm/blow)
 1.27
CBR  410(DN)
Where
DN = Penetration of the DCP through a specific pavement layer in
mm/blow. The DN is a weighted average. DN is similar to DPI.

27 27
 CBR Examples (based on RSA Correlation)

• DN CBR
(mm/blow) (%)
5 53

10 22

20 9

40 4
28
 DCP Correlation

•
• Modulus Correlation developed in South Africa

logE eff  3.04758  1.06166log (DN)

Where
R2 = 76% and n = 86 data points
Eeff = Effective elastic modulus for a 40 kN load.
DN = Weighted average DCP penetration rate in mm/blow.

29 29
 E-value Examples (based on RSA Correlation)

• DN Eeff
(mm/blow) MPa (psi)
5 202 (29,000 psi)
10 97 (14,000 psi)
20 46 (7,000 psi)
40 22 (3,000 psi)

30
 Typical DCP Plot (from RSA)

31
 RSA Design Curves

Note: MISA is the same as ESALs. 32

 DCP Testing Frequency (based on RSA
recommendations)
• Existing paved road
•
• 8 DCP tests randomly spaced over the length of the project in both the
outer wheelpath and between the wheelpaths.
• Gravel road
• 5 DCP tests per kilometer with the tests staggered between the outer
and between wheelpaths.
• Perform additional test at significant locations identified via visual
distress survey.

33 33
Summary of National Pavement Practices

State DOT Flexible Pavement Design Subgrade Inputs

34
 Summary of National Pavement Practices

State DOT Rigid Pavement Design Subgrade Inputs

35
 Resilient Modulus (MR)
• • Measure: stress-strain
• Units: psi, MPa
• Typical Values
• Subgrade: 3,000 to 40,000 psi
• Crushed rock: 20,000 to 50,000 psi
• HMA: 200,000 to 500,000 psi at 70°F

36
 Modulus Correlations
• • Use with caution

MR = (1500) (CBR)
Fine-grained materials with soaked CBR ≤ 10
MR = 1,000 + (555)(R-value)
Fine-grained soils with R-Value ≤ 20
MR = (2555)CBR0.64
New AASHTO Design Guide
37 37
 Modulus—CBR Correlation
• • Modulus Correlation developed by TRRL
0.64
E  (17.6)CBR

Where
E = Elastic modulus (MPa)
CBR = California Bearing Ratio

38 38
 FAQ:

• 1. Difference between DCPT and SPT?

2. Weight of hammer for SPT?
3. What are the various significance of CBR test?
4. What is the purpose of Plate load test?
5. Size of plate for plate load test?

39
 References:

•
1. Arora,K.R., “ soil mechanics and foundation engineering”
(geotechnical engineering)
2. Ranjan,Gopal and RAO,A.S.R.” basics and applied soil
mechanics.
3. Singh,Jagroop., “ Soil and Foundation engineering”
4. Khanna, S.K. and justo C.E.G., “Highway material testing”,
Nem chand & bros., Roorkee, 1977.

40
 Thanks
Queries are welcome

41