1 Characterization of Granular Base Materials for Design of Flexible Pavements Lulu Edwards, Walter...
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1 Characterization of Granular Base Materials for Design of Flexible Pavements Lulu Edwards, Walter Barker, Don Alexander US Army Engineer Research and Development Center Vicksburg, MS 2010 FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition Atlantic City, NJ
1 Characterization of Granular Base Materials for Design of Flexible Pavements Lulu Edwards, Walter Barker, Don Alexander US Army Engineer Research and
1 Characterization of Granular Base Materials for Design of
Flexible Pavements Lulu Edwards, Walter Barker, Don Alexander US
Army Engineer Research and Development Center Vicksburg, MS 2010
FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition
Atlantic City, NJ
Slide 2
2 Introduction Current method used to design flexible pavements
was developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the start of
World War II Due to the increased tire loads and tire pressures of
military vehicles, these design procedures have been increasingly
challenged, particularly in the use of locally available materials
for base and sub-base layers Main structural elements of such
pavements are the granular base and sub-base layers Granular
materials of increasing strength are used to protect the weaker
natural subgrade PROBLEM: Current procedure for characterizing
granular materials is based indirectly on strength
characterization, relying on gradation and fractured faces.
Slide 3
3 Introduction Performance of unbound, granular pavement layers
Dependent on aggregate properties Poor performance results in
premature pavement distresses Current characterization tests were
developed empirically Shear strength is most important property
that governs unbound pavement layer performance NEED:
Performance-based procedures to characterize granular materials and
predict the performance of flexible pavements (a direct method)
Standard triaxial Repeated-load triaxial tests
Slide 4
4 Test Section Full-scale test sections constructed to develop
and validate flexible pavements criteria Minimum thickness Marginal
materials New CBR criteria Test sections constructed with different
granular materials in base and subbase Lab results are being
investigated to predict performance of test sections (future
work)
Slide 5
5 Lab Testing 5 different granular materials tested in
laboratory Sand Crushed stone Crushed aggregate Blend of sand and
crushed aggregate Crushed stone fines and crushed aggregate Lab
tests conducted: Standard Triaxial Repeated Load Triaxial
Slide 6
6 Sample Preparation for Granular Materials Water was added to
bring sample to optimal moisture content Sample compaction Porous
stone with filter paper cover are placed at the bottom of split
mold Compact samples in a split mold using vacuum to keep membrane
expanded 5.5 lb drop hammer at height of 12 in. Compact in 1.5 in.
lifts Measure height of 2 nd, 4 th, 6 th, and 8 th lifts to verify
density Top is leveled, with sand if necessary Top filter paper,
porous stone, and end cap are placed on sample Vacuum is
disconnected and membrane is sealed Height and diameter are
measured 2 nd membrane is placed over 1 st membrane
Slide 7
7 Testing Apparatus
Slide 8
8 Standard Triaxial Test Protocol 3 samples are tested per
material Drained condition at confining stresses of 5, 15, and 30
psi Controlled rate of deformation (strain) mode 1%
strain-per-minute Total deformation of 0.85 in. Measurements
recorded during testing Cross-head movement LVDT movement Applied
load Measurements recorded after testing Water content Dry
density
Slide 9
9 Example from Quick-Drained Triaxial Tests
Slide 10
10 Normal Stress, PSI Q-Test Blend of CS Crushed Aggregate and
Limestone Fines Mohrs Circle for Quick-Drained Triaxial Tests Shear
Stress, PSI 30 PSI 15 PSI 5 PSI
Slide 11
11 Repeated Load Triaxial Test Protocol 3 samples are tested
per material Drained condition at confining stresses of 5, 15, and
30 psi Array of load increments applied Load increments estimated
with strength from Q test Maximum strength was divided by 5 to
determine load increment 1000 loading cycles Load duration is 1
second and no-load duration is 2 seconds Load waveform is offset
sine curve Minimum load is 2-4 psi Load levels increase until
sample fails Data recorded Time, load, crosshead movement, LVDT
movement, chamber pressure, and cycle number Cycles: 1-10, 20, 30,
40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 1000
Slide 12
12 Load Pulse and Response Pulse
Slide 13
13 Stress-Strain Curves for 1 Load Increment
Slide 14
14 Permanent Deformation
Slide 15
15 Resilient Modulus Changes
Slide 16
16 Failure Stress Example for 15 psi
Slide 17
17 Crushed Limestone Base Permanent Strain
Slide 18
18 Normal Stress, PSI Shear Stress, PSI Mohrs Circle for
Crushed Limestone From Repeated Load Triaxial Test Mohrs Circle for
Repeated Load Testing
Slide 19
19 Summary of Results for Granular Materials Quick-Drained /
StandardRepeated Load Material Cohesion (psi) Angle of Internal
Friction (Deg) Shear Strength a (psi) Cohesion (psi) Angle of
Internal Friction (Deg) Shear Strength a (psi) Sand2431184016
Crushed Gravel0541455218 Crushed Limestone175330145528 Blend
Crushed Gravel and Sand 2541605414 Blend Crushed Gravel and
Limestone Fines 8492055117 a Based on an assumed normal stress of
10 psi
Slide 20
20 Shear Strength Comparison
Slide 21
21 Resilient Modulus for Crushed Aggregate and Limestone
Fines
Slide 22
22 Sample Preparation for Subgrade Materials Subgrade samples
were taken from test sections using 3 in. diameter and 10 in.
length Shelby tube samplers Wrapped with plastic and aluminum foil
and dipped in wax for moisture retention Stored in humid room until
testing Trimmed to cylinder size of 2.8 in. wide and 5.6 in. high
Covered with rubber membrane and placed in triaxial chamber for
testing CH subgrade clay tested: 4 CBR 10 CBR 15 CBR
Slide 23
23 CH Clay
Slide 24
24 Resilient Modulus for CH Subgrade
Slide 25
25 Conclusions Standard triaxial test and repeated load
triaxial test would be an improvement over Corps of Engineers
current procedure for characterizing granular materials Good
comparison for cohesion and angle of internal friction values for
both standard and repeated load testing Repeated load triaxial test
More accurately represents actual loading conditions and thus is an
improvement over the standard triaxial test Resilient modulus can
also be estimated Materials are stressed to reach permanent
deformation to provide better understanding of material behavior
Repeated load triaxial test is more complicated to execute than the
standard triaxial test