Comparative Assessment of Deformation Under Plate Bearing Test and CBR Test for Subgrade Soil

Saad Issa Sarsam

doi:10.54392/irjmt2161

Abstract

A significant variation in the strength and deformation behavior of subgrade soil when tested in the laboratory and in the field. However, correlation of such variables is essential to evaluate the quality of the constructed subgrade. An attempt has been made in the present investigation to assess the deformation of control and stabilized subgrade soil in the laboratory and in the field. California bearing ratio (CBR) test was conducted in the laboratory and the static plate bearing test (PBT) was conducted in the field. Subgrade soil samples were stabilized with 6% lime, 17 % Cationic Emulsion, and combination of lime and emulsion. Similar stabilization was conducted at test sections in the field. The behavior of the control and stabilized soil in deformation under static PBT in the field and CBR in the laboratory was monitored and evaluated. It was noticed that polynomial correlation exists with high coefficient of determination between laboratory and field deformation for stabilized soil. It was observed that the deformation under CBR test decreased after implication of lime by (96 and 88) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively. The deformation decreases by (92 and 85.6) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively when emulsion was implemented. The deformation decreases by (91 and 88) % for unsoaked and soaked testing conditions respectively when combined stabilization was implemented. However, the deformation under PBT decreases by (75, 56, and 50) % for lime, emulsion, and combined stabilization processes respectively. It was concluded that testing condition (soaked or unsoaked) has no significant impact on the deformation of stabilized soil while it has a significant influence on the deformation of untreated soil under CBR test. On the other hand, the deformation of control soil shows no significant variation among field and laboratory testing in the model, however, the stabilized soil samples exhibit higher influence of field deformation on the polynomial models.

Highlights

The comparison of laboratory and in-situ equipment for the determination of soil subgrade strength and deformation is a practical and effective method to ensure that the soil subgrade is properly compacted and achieved the required design strength
It was concluded that testing condition has no significant impact on the deformation of stabilized soil while it has a significant influence on the deformation of untreated soil under California bearing ratio (CBR) test
The results indicated that in the top zone of the filled soil layers with 94% degree of compaction, the quick lime stabilized subgrade soil exhibited higher values of CBR and resilient modulus, and lower values of resilient deflection and dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) Index

Summary

Introduction

The comparison of laboratory and in-situ equipment for the determination of soil subgrade strength and deformation is a practical and effective method to ensure that the soil subgrade is properly compacted and achieved the required design strength. Kuttah, [5] demonstrated that the laboratory dynamic California bearing ratio CBRLD test can be used as a method of compaction assessment of selected subgrade soil. A series of field tests, including California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test, plate loading test, Benkelman beam deflection test, and dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) test were undertaken by Du et al, [6] after the embankment construction. The influence of combined stabilization on the structural properties in terms of load bearing capacity under both testing techniques have been monitored and analyzed It was concluded there is no significant variation in the strength behavior and resistance to deformation between combined stabilization and asphalt stabilization at soaked condition.

Materials and Methods

Testing Methods

Conclusions