SERVICEABILITY LOSS DUE TO ROUGHNESS CAUSED BY VOLUME CHANGE IN EXPANSIVE CLAY SUBGRADES

It is common knowledge that pavements built on expansive clay subgrades will become rough whether heavily trafficked or not. Therefore it is obvious that much of the roughness that occurs on such roadways is caused by differential volume change in the subgrade, but this has been largely ignored in both analysis and design. Relatively little research effort has been expended to study this source of serviceability loss. Velasco and Lytton recently developed a multiple regression model to predict loss of serviceability with time caused by differential volume change in expansive clay subgrades. This model was developed from a limited data base that included present serviceability indices and various characteristics of the subgrade soils indicative of volume change potential. Applications of this model to four test sections in Texas and four in Colorado indicated that the effects of the independent variables on the loss of serviceability caused by expansive clay predicted by the model appeared to be reasonable. The predicted results for each test section are discussed with relation to known 18-kip equivalent single-axle loads and the characteristics of the subgrade clays. The assignment of responsibility for loss of serviceability between axle loads and differential volume change in the subgrade is explored and is discussed in detail.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/993/993-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SERVICEABILITY+LOSS+DUE+TO+ROUGHNESS+CAUSED+BY+VOLUME+CHANGE+IN+EXPANSIVE+CLAY+SUBGRADES&author=B.+Rauhut&author=R.+Lytton&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309038022
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Environmental Factors Except Frost. 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.
• Authors:
  • Rauhut, Brent
  • Lytton, Robert L
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 12-18
• Monograph Title: Factors affecting pavement performance
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 993
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Expansive clays; Losses; Pavement performance; Regression analysis; Roughness; Subgrade (Pavements); Volume changes
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement serviceability
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450673
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309038022
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 28 1986 12:00AM