THE INFLUENCE OF MOISTURE CONTENT AND SOIL SUCTION ON THE RESILIENT MODULUS OF A LATERITIC SUBGRADE SOIL

Alexandre B. Parreira1 and Ricardo F. Gonalves2

ABSTRACT Any mechanistic analysis of pavements requires the knowledge of resilient moduli (M R) of all their components. The specimens used in the laboratory for resilient modulus determination are usually compacted and tested at the optimum water content and maximum dry density, but the pavement subgrade, although compacted close to these conditions, will support moisture variations as a result of seasonal and environment fluctuations. This paper presents results from an experimental study in which one typical lateritic soil encountered in roadbed in Brazil was tested under triaxial cyclic loading and evaluate the relationship between MR variations and water content and suction level variations. It was found that the lower moisture content results in the greater resilient modulus, and this decreases as the moisture content is increased, for any level of deviator stress. The filter paper showed good performance to assess even high suction levels and the soil characteristic curve illustrates that as the soil gets more wetted, the suction decreases. The cyclic loading triaxial test does not modify the soil suction and the resilient modulus increases so that the soil suction is increased. A good relationship was obtained between resilient modulus, deviator stress and suction level. INTRODUCTION The resilient modulus (M R) is analogous to Youngs modulus and can be defined as the ratio of ciclic deviator stress to recoverable axial strain. Any mechanistic analysis of pavements requires the knowledge of resilient moduli of all their components. The AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structure (1993) uses the resilient moduli to characterize material properties of each layer in the pavement section and presents a procedure to consider variations of roadbed moduli with the seasonal changes in their water content along the year. The specimens used in the laboratory for resilient modulus determination are usually compacted and tested at the optimum water content and maximum dry density, but the pavement subgrade, although compacted close to these conditions, will support moisture variations as a result of seasonal and environment fluctuations. Fine-grained soils, principally, exhibit a decrease in modulus as the water content is increased, leading to increased deflections in the pavement subgrade and most pavement failures occur as a result of wet and dry moisture content cycles of subgrade layers (Mohammad et al. 1995, Drumm et al. 1997). A large portion of Brazilian territory, as most of tropical regions as the south hemisphere of the world, is covered with soils generically referred as lateritic. Due to their geological formation their clay fraction is rich in oxides and hydroxides of iron and aluminum. These areas present a high annual mean air temperature, generally over than 200 C. The rainfall is high, but limited to 1800 mm (700 in.) per year, and the exposition to the sun is high. Due to the high temperature and sun exposure, the evapotranspiration is elevated. The majority of compacted subgrades at these regions shows the moisture content below optimum content during the service life of the pavement. Moisture contents above optimum are unusual and there is little discrepancy when they occur. The purposes of this paper are to present laboratory results concerning the resilient modulus of a typical lateritic soil encountered in roadbed in Brazil and evaluate the relationship between MR variations and water content and suction level variations.
1 2

D.Sc., Professor, University of So Paulo, So Carlos, Brazil, e-mail: parreira@usp.br MSc., University of So Paulo, So Carlos, Brazil, e-mail: efg@netgo.com.br

PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL STUDIED The soil studied was collected within the domain band of SP-215 State Highway, at the 139 th km + 500m, between the cities of So Carlos and Descalvado, located in So Paulo State, Brazil. Table 1 presents the HRB, USCS and MCT classifications, the liquid limit (LL), the plastic limit (LP), the plasticity index (IP), the grading data and the specific gravity of this soil. Table 1 : Classification, LL, IP, gradation and specific gravity of the soil tested SOIL CLASSIFICATION Liquid Plastic Plastic Clay Passing Specific Limit (%) Limit (%) Index (%) (%) #200 Sieve Gravity HRB USCS MCT (g/cm3) (%) A-7-6 CL LG' 46.4 28.8 17.6 38 52 2.66 The MCT classification, developed for identifying lateritic soils, indicates that the soil studied is a sandyclay lateritic soil (LG). The conventional knowledge based on the HRB soil classification does not recommend this type of soil as base material, even as subgrade. Nevertheless, experience has shown that LG soils perform well in pavement construction when appropriately used. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES The experimental phase involved compaction and CBR tests, specimen preparation, the soil suction determination and the cyclic loading triaxial tests. Compaction and CBR Tests The compaction tests were carried out to determine the optimum moisture content (w o) and the maximum dry density (dmax) at the Standard Proctor Energy. The values of optimum moisture content, dry density and the CBR at optimum moisture content are 19.5%, 1.66 g/cm3 and 22%, respectively. Specimen Preparation The specimens submitted to cyclic loading triaxial and determination tests of soil suction, cylinders with a diameter of 51 mm and a length of 102 mm, were molded by static compaction in 3 layers. In all cases, a degree of compaction equal to 100% was reached, regarding the Standard Energy. In addition, the moisture content of the specimens did not vary more than 0.1 percent from the desired moisture content. The wetting process of the compacted specimens was made by capillary using a saturated porous stone disc. The specimens, after the preparation, were kept sealed in an airtight plastic bag for 48 hours before testing. Cyclic Loading Triaxial Tests The cyclic loading triaxial tests were performed using a MTS closed-loop servo-electrohydraulic testing system which is capable of applying repeated load in haversine waveform with a wide range of load duration. The axial deformations were measured by LVDTs mounted inside the triaxial cell. The specimens were submitted to cyclic loading triaxial tests following the loading sequence according to the specifications of the AASHTO Designation TP46-94 (1996). At least 3 repeated tests were conducted for each of the different conditions analysed in the study. Soil Suction The suction in the specimens was determined through the paper filter method according to the procedure proposed by Chandler and Gutierrez (1986). A 125mm diameter Whatman 42 paper filter was used. The calibration equations proposed by ASTM D5298 (1992) were adopted to calculate soil suction. Soil Conditions Analysed Studies 1, 2 and 3, which follow, present the moisture conditions under which the specimens were tested: Study 1: Specimens compacted at optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. One part of the specimens was submitted to drying to wot-2%, and the other part was wetted to wot+1%. This study simulates the subgrade moisture variation after the pavement construction, in the region.

Study 2: Specimens compacted at optimum moisture content and maximum dry density. Here, the specimens were submitted to drying during 48 hours. One part of the specimens was again wetted to wot. This study simulates the situation when the soil studied is used as base material of low volume roads. At this condition, the base is allowed to dry before being primed. Study 3: Specimens compacted at wot-2% and wot+1% and maximum dry density. This study allows the assessment of the effect of the moisture content at compaction on the resilient modulus. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS Figure 1 shows the relationship between the resilient modulus and the deviator stress of specimens compacted at optimum moisture content (wot=19.5%) and which afterwards had their moisture varied as follows: wetted up to 20.5% and dried up to 17.5% ( Study 1); dried during 48 hours (wfinal=8.3%), and subsequently wetted until wot (Study 2).
1000 800
R es ilie n t M o dul u s ( M Pa )

600 400 300 200

19.5% 8.3% 19.5% 19.5% 8.3% (48h) 19.5% 20.5% 17.5% 19.5% wot = 19.5%

100 10

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Deviator Stress (kPa)

100

Figure 1 : Resilient modulus and the deviator stress - Study 1 and Study 2

Taking as a reference the resilient modulus of the specimens compacted and tested at optimum moisture content, it is observed that the 1% moistening results in a 25% decrease of such value. It is also observed that the 2% drying causes a 24% increase and the drying of 11.2% (48h) leads to a 54% increase in the values of the resilient modulus when compared to the ones of molded and tested specimens at wot. The 48-hour drying of the specimens compacted at optimum moisture content followed by a moistening until wot brought about a 55% decrease in the value of the resilient modulus compared to the MR value of the tests at wot.

Some authors have carried out tests with specimens compacted at w ot, in which the moisture conditions were subsequently altered. Results found were similar to the ones observed in this study. Drumm et al. (1997), upon the analysis of A-7-5 soil, have observed that for a 0.7% moistening and 1.3% above w ot, the resilient modulus reduces in 27% and 50%, respectively. Thadkamalla e 1000 George (1995), upon the test of an A-7wot = 19.5% 800 5 soil, have observed that for specimens 19.5% 20.5% compacted at optimum moisture content 600 and wetted until maximum saturation w = 20.5% has been reached, the resilient modulus 400 decreases 62%, on average. In the 300 present study, the great MR decrease of the specimens dried during 48 hours and wetted until wot can be explained by 200 exaggerate laboratory drying, 11.2%, that could cause shrinkage cracks in specimens. The real water content 100 reduction during the pavement 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 100 construction is about 2%, in this case. Deviator Stress (kPa) Figure 2 enables one to compare the Figure 2 : Resilient modulus and the deviator stress - Study resilient modulus in specimens 1 and Study 3 compacted at optimum moisture content
R Pa esilie n t M o dulus ( M )

followed by moistening up to 20.5% (Study 1) with the resilient modulus of specimens compacted at 20.5% moisture and maximum dry density (Study 3). It is observable that the 1000 specimens in study 3 showed lower wot = 19.5% resilient modulus values compared to 800 19.5% 20.5% those in Study 1. The difference was 600 17%. w =15.5% Figure 3 enables to compare the 400 resilient modulus of specimens compacted at optimum moisture content 300 followed by drying of up to 17.5% (Study 1) with the MR of specimens 200 compacted at 17.5% moisture and maximum dry density (Study 3). It is observed that the specimens compacted 100 2% below optimum moisture content 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 100 showed values of resilient modulus Deviator Stress (kPa) 33% higher than those compacted at optimum moisture content and dried Figure 3 : Resilient modulus and the deviator stress - Study 1 2%. and Study 3 With Figures 2 e 3, the variation effect of compaction moisture in the resilient modulus value for specimens compacted with the same dry density (d max) can be analysed. For specimens compacted at the dry branch of the compaction curve (w=17.5%), 67% higher resilient modulus values are observed, and for specimens compacted at the wet branch (w=20.5%), 33% lower resilient modulus values are observed, when both were confronted with resilient modulus values of specimens compacted at optimum moisture content. In this case, the overcompaction influences the particle orientations producing flocculated and dispersed structures on the dry and the wet side of optimum, respectively.
1200 R Pa esilie n t M odul us ( M ) 1000 800 600 400 200 0 5 10 15 Water Content (%) 20 25
R es ilie n t M o dul u s ( M Pa )

sdd==24.8 24.8 kPa kPa sd d = 37.3 kPa = 37.3 kPa sd d 49.7 kPa == 49.7 kPa sd d = 62.0 kPa = 62.0 kPa

Figure 4 : Resilient modulus and moisture content four levels of deviator stress

at the

Figure 4 shows the relationship between the resilient modulus and moisture content at the four levels of deviator stress (d) developed in these tests. The moisture values of the specimens relate to the following conditions: w=8.3% (dried 48h), w=17.5% (dried until w o t-2%), wot=19.5% and w=20.5% (moistened until wot+1%). It is observed that an increase in the moisture content results in a decrease of the resilient modulus value for any level of deviator stress applied. Such analogous behavior was also observed by Edil and Motan (1979) and Phillip and Cameron (1995).

Figure 5 illustrates the characteristic curve of the soil studied. The moisture contents were reached through drying and moistening processes of the specimens compacted at optimum moisture content. It is worth noting that as the soil becomes more moistened or drier, the suction, respectively, decreases or increases. It is observed that the specimens molded with the purpose of determining the characteristic curve and the specimens submitted to cyclic loading triaxial test show a common characteristic curve. Such fact

indicates that the procedures of the cyclic loading triaxial tests do not modify the suction level of the specimens tested. Figure 6 shows the relationship between the resilient modulus and soil suction at the four levels of deviator 10000 stress developed in the cyclic loading triaxial tests. Suction values were 1000 determined through the soil characteristic curve for specimens molded in optimum moisture content and submitted to water 100 variations, reaching the following specimens subjected to cyclic tests moisture contents: w=8.3% (dried 48h), 10 w=17.5% (dried until w o t-2%), specimens not subjected to cyclic tests wot=19.5% e w=20.5% (moistened until 1 wot+1%). For all analysed deviator stress, it is observed that the resilient 0 5 10 15 20 25 modulus increases with suction increase. Water content (%) Philip and Cameron (1995) also observed the same behavior. Such growth is Figure 5 : Soil characteristic curve proportional to the increase of the deviator stress, contrary to what was observed by the authors mentioned previously. In this study, for the same suction, the resilient modulus increases with the increase of the deviator stress. In the current research, after M R and suction level were determined for each specimen in Study 1 and Study 2, statistical correlations between the resilient modulus, suction, and the stress state expressed by bulky stress, confining pressure, principal stresses and combinations of these variables, were analysed. The best correlation found is described by Equation 1, where: MR = resilient modulus (MPa), d = deviator stress (kPa) and Su = suction (kPa).
100000

Suction (kPa)

MR = 14.10 d 0.782 Su 0.076

(1)

This prediction Equation 1 has a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.92, that indicates a good agreement between the variables.
1000 900 R e s ili e n t M o du lu s ( M Pa ) 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 Suction (kPa)

sdd==24.8 24.8kPa kPa sd d 37.3 kPa == 37.3 kPa sd d = 49.7 kPa = 49.7 kPa sd d 62.0 kPa == 62.0 kPa

CONCLUSIONS From the analysis of the results, one can come to the following conclusions: the lower moisture content results in the greater resilient modulus, and this decreases as the moisture content is increased, for any level of deviator stress; the filter paper showed good performance to assess even high suction levels; the soil characteristic curve illustrates that as the soil gets more wetted, the suction decreases; the cyclic loading triaxial test does not modify the soil suction; the resilient modulus varies with the variation of soil suction, where the resilient modulus increases so that the soil suction is increased. A good

Figure 6 : Resilient modulus and suction at the four levels of deviator stress ( d)

relationship (Equation 1) was obtained between resilient modulus, deviator stress and suction level for the Studies 1 and 2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Our many thanks to Brazilian research agencies FAPESP and CNPq for the financial support which made this study possible. REFERENCES AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (1996) AASHTO Designation TP46-94. Standard test method for determining the resilient modulus of soils and aggregate materials. Washington, DC. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (1992). Standard test method for measurement of soil potential (suction) using filter paper No D5298-92. American Society for Testing Materials. Chandler, R. J. and C. I. Gutierrez (1986). The filter-paper method of suction measurement. Gotechnique, 36, Vol. 2, pp. 265-268. Drumm, E. C.; J. S. Reeves and M. R. Madgett (1997). Subgrade resilient modulus correction for saturation effects. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 123, n. 7, pp. 663-71. Edil, T. B. and S. E. Motan (1979). Soil-water potential and resilient behaviour of subgrade soils. Transportation Research Record, 705, pp. 54-63. Mohammad, L.N; Puppala, A.J. and Alavilli, P. (1995). Resilient properties of laboratory compacted subgrade soils. Transportation Research Record, 1504, pp. 87-102. Phillip, A. W. and D. A. Cameron (1995). The influence of soil suction on the resilient modulus of expansive soil subgrades. Proceedings Conference International on Unsaturated Soils, Paris, Frana, Vol. 1, pp. 171-176. Thadkamalla, G. B. and K. P. George (1995). Characterization of subgrade soils at simulated field moisture. Transportation Research Record, 1481, pp. 21-27.