Verification of the Elastic Modulus in Pavement Granular Base Courses Through Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) and Pressure Cells

The pavement's structural design uses the material’s elastic modulus of each layer in order to understand its mechanical behavior. Despite the existence of several methods to obtain the elastic modulus, the Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) has gained popularity, because it allows obtaining the elastic modulus of pavement aggregate bases and subbases easily. However, in the literature there is no evidence validating the use of this modulus for assessing the supporting capacity of pavement aggregate layers. Therefore, for this research testing structures were built, made up of an aggregate base course of selected material over known California Bearing Ratio (CBR) subgrades, and pressure cells were placed in the interface of both layers, with the aim to verify and validate the use of LWD modulus and the analytical models. The results demonstrated that the LWD elastic modulus is suitable for calculating the state of stresses. Calibration factors (f) were determined based on the type of structure and the load applied. These factors are recommended for preliminary calculations in structures with similar characteristics to those described in the present paper.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFP30 Standing Committee on Soil and Rock Properties. Alternate title: Verification of the State of Stress in Pavement Granular Base Courses Through Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) and Pressure Cells.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Rodriguez, Ignacio
  • Thenoux, Guillermo
  • Sandoval, Gonzalo
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 10p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); California bearing ratio; Granular bases; Load cells; Modulus of elasticity; Subgrade (Pavements)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lightweight deflectometers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01698436
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-00778
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 2 2019 3:41PM