ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF COMPACTED CLAY CONDITIONED BY SATURATION AND FREEZE-THAW CYCLES

This research quantitatively evaluates the effect of saturation and freeze-thaw cycles on the rheological characteristics of a compacted subgrade. Kaolin samples compacted by 25, 40, and 80 blows of a drop hammer were tested over a wide range of moisture contents and densities. The failure and rheological parameters investigated that relate to soil strength are unconfined compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, creep modulus, and complex elastic modulus. Laboratory compacted samples were saturated under controlled boundary stress conditions in a specially designed chamber and were then subjected to non freeze-thaw cycles before testing. Results show that volumetric swelling, although less than the volume of absorbed water, increases as compaction energy increases and that soil structure also changes under saturation and freeze-thaw cycles. Rheological parameter values seem to be independent of the compaction energy levels used. Results also show that compacted cohesive subgrades exposed to saturation and freeze-thaw cycles in the field will experience major reductions in load-carrying capacity. Therefore, it is recommended that the design of rigid and flexible pavements over cohesive subgrades for areas in which cyclic freezing and thawing occurs should focus greater attention on providing adequate subgrade drainage so that initial saturation of the subgrade is minimized.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/532/532-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ENGINEERING+PROPERTIES+OF+COMPACTED+CLAY+CONDITIONED+BY+SATURATION+AND+FREEZE-THAW+CYCLES&author=C.+Pagen&author=V.+Khosla&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Frost Action. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Pagen, Charles A
  • Khosla, Vijay K
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 14-29
• Monograph Title: FROST, MOISTURE, AND EROSION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 532
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearing capacity; Cohesive soils; Compaction; Creep; Density; Drainage; Freeze thaw durability; Kaolin; Laboratory tests; Modulus of elasticity; Moisture content; Rheological properties; Soil structure; Soils; Subgrade (Pavements); Swelling
• Uncontrolled Terms: Unconfined compression
• Old TRIS Terms: Freezing thawing effects; Soil bearing capacity
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00099651
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023807
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 5 1975 12:00AM