Stiffness-Based Quality Control Evaluation of Modified Subgrade Soil Using Lightweight Deflectometer
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 9
Abstract
Despite the availability of reliable stiffness-based quality control evaluation techniques, developing countries still adopt traditional density-based quality control assessment on unbound pavement layers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of lightweight deflectometers (LWD) as a quality control device for modified subgrade under varying drop weights. Experimental investigations were performed on a 240-m long and 9-m wide experimental stretch constructed in Gujarat, India. Mean target stiffness value on the modified subgrade using LWD with 10, 15, and 20-kg drop weights were 40, 51, and 64 MPa, respectively. Percentage variations between target and evaluated stiffness values on the modified subgrade were 2.60, 3.10, and 0.28%, for 10, 15, and 20-kg drop weights, respectively. Subsequently, the influence of in situ moisture content and density on stiffness values of modified subgrade for various drop weights was assessed by correlation analysis, and the results depict a good value from 0.74 to 0.82. The LWD backcalculated moduli (10 kg) and dynamic cone penetrometer estimated resilient moduli values of modified subgrade were compared, and the mean percentage variation was 3.78–4.95%. Thus, there is a substantiate relationship between in situ density and stiffness values that follow similar trends under varying LWD drop weights. Therefore, LWD stiffness-based evaluation on modified subgrade soil contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of quality control measures during construction of low volume roads.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Zydex Industries, India, for providing the nanomaterials and relevant technical documents that are used in this experimental research study. The authors express their deep gratitude to Mr. Rajesh Pitroda with Zydex Industries for his support in providing manpower, machinery, materials, and location for construction of the experimental stretch. The authors would like to thank Christopher T. Senseney for providing helpful technical insight into LWD testing.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 9 • September 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 18, 2016
Accepted: Jan 31, 2017
Published online: May 19, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Oct 19, 2017
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