Laboratory investigation to identify subgrade soil in Maharashtra to satisfy reinforcement need for pavement design

Abstract

Pavement research manifests the field test to stimulate the field condition wherein the lab test quickly acquires the results. Researchers faced difficulty achieving uniformity upon testing the natural subgrade soil, but the artificial subgrade controls trafficking and design parameters like subgrade california bearing ratio (CBR). In this paper, four different soil samples collected from Maharashtra were tested to identify the subgrade soil that satisfies the pavement's need for reinforcement. The article discusses the results and highlights the predominant tests performed by following Indian standard (IS) codes like CBR, swelling pressure, hydrometer test, and other engineering properties tests. Sample #4 is black cotton soil, basically montmorillonite clay. Results reveal that sample #4 identified as CH as per IS soil classification showed the swelling pressure as 40kN/m2, proving that the soil is challenging and expansive with the need for reinforcement in pavement design as the soaked CBR value is 2.23%.