Nonlinear Parameters for Granular Base Materials from Plate Tests
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 7
Abstract
Repeated load triaxial tests are widely used to determine nonlinear behavior of unbound granular materials. However, conventional triaxial specimen preparation techniques may not be able to reconstruct the internal structure of a material which has great impact on some of the nonlinear parameters. In addition, it is difficult to reproduce in situ stress conditions in a triaxial cell. In this study, full-scale cyclic and static laboratory plate load tests were performed to investigate the mechanical properties of unbound granular materials. An algorithm was developed to backcalculate nonlinear parameters for prediction of models as a function of bulk stress. Study results demonstrate the pronounced influence of water content on the behavior of unbound granular materials and a generally linear relation between nonlinear parameter and the degree of saturation.
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Acknowledgments
The South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration provided financial support for this study and the ongoing investigation of GAB behavior in flexible pavement structures. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the SCDOT or the FHWA.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 7 • July 2005
Pages: 907 - 913
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: May 17, 2004
Accepted: Nov 1, 2004
Published online: Jul 1, 2005
Published in print: Jul 2005
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