Pavement Engineering

4300:565
Assignment #5
Spring 2014

SUBMITTED BY
Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
Student Id: 2824475
 PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 1

A series of repeated triaxial tests were conducted to determine the

resilient modulus of an unbound granular material that will be
used as a base layer in an asphalt pavement structure. The tests
were carried out at different confining and axial stress levels, as
shown in the table below. Based on the test results,

a. Find the coefficients of the models given below:

i. Mr = k1k2 (plot Mr vs.  on a log-log scale)

ii. Mr = k3dk4 (plot Mr vs. d on a log-log scale)
iii. Mr = k1k2dk3 (plot Mr vs.  on a log-log scale for the different 3 levels)

Refer to the following youtube video for an example on multi-linear regression:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu8PojzWIuQ. Note that this video is for multi-
linear regression. In order to linearize the third resilient modulus model, you must
take the log() of both sides of the model.

b. Comment on the quality of fit of the previous three models

Several statistical parameters can be used to determine the aptness of the previous
mathematical models. One of these parameters is the sum of square of errors that
we used in class in the previous lecture. Another parameter is the coefficient of
determination of R2, which is more difficult to calculate for nonlinear models, but is
more common.

Repeated Axial
Confining Pressure, Resilient Modulus,
Stress
3 d = 1 – 3 Mr
(psi) (psi) (psi)
2 3 12000
2 4 11500
2 6 11400
2 8 12400
2 10 12800
2 12 13700
3 4.5 15000
3 6 14500
3 9 14000
3 12 16000
3 15 17000
3 18 17800
5 7.5 21000
5 10 20000
5 15 20500
5 20 22300
5 25 24100
5 30 26000

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

10 15 42500
10 20 32000
10 30 29600
10 40 31400
10 50 32500
10 60 37000
20 30 66000
20 40 52300
20 60 43600
20 80 45200
20 100 47300
20 120 55700

Solution

a)

Confining Pressure, Repeated Axial Stress Resilient Modulus, Bulk Stress,

3 d = 1 – 3 Mr θ 3
(psi) (psi) (psi) (psi)
2 3 12000 9
2 4 11500 10
2 6 11400 12
2 8 12400 14
2 10 12800 16
2 12 13700 18
3 4.5 15000 13.5
3 6 14500 15
3 9 14000 18
3 12 16000 21
3 15 17000 24
3 18 17800 27
5 7.5 21000 22.5
5 10 20000 25
5 15 20500 30
5 20 22300 35
5 25 24100 40
5 30 26000 45
10 15 42500 45
10 20 32000 50
10 30 29600 60
10 40 31400 70
10 50 32500 80
10 60 37000 90
20 30 66000 90
20 40 52300 100

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

20 60 43600 120
20 80 45200 140
20 100 47300 160
20 120 55700 180

Model-1

For Equation, Mr = k1k2

k1 = 2934.2
k2 = 0.5806

Model-1: Resilient Modulus

100000
Resilient Modulus (psi)

f(x) = 2934.25 x^0.58

R² = 0.91

10000
1 10 100 1000
Bulk Stress (psi)

Model-2

For Equation, Mr = k3dk4

k3 = 6035.9
k4 = 0.4703

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Model-2: Resilient Modulus

100000

Resilient Modulus (psi) f(x) = 6035.87 x^0.47

R² = 0.74

10000
1 10 100 1000
Repeated Axial Stress (psi)

Model-3

For Equation, Mr = k1k2dk3

 log (Mr) = log (k1) + k2 log (+ k3 log (d)
 Mr’ = k1’ + k2 ’ + k3 d’

Using, Microsoft Excel Regression Data Analysis,

So,
k1 = 10^3.2243423 = 1676.264
k2 = 1.19864

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

k3 = -0.57214

Model-3: Resilient Modulus

100000

σ3 = 2 psi (Original)
σ3 = 2 psi (Predicted)
Resilient Modulus (psi)

σ3 = 3 psi (Original)
σ3 = 3 psi (Predicted)
σ3 = 5 psi (Original)
σ3 = 5 psi (predicted)
σ3 = 10 psi (Original)
σ3 = 10 psi (Predicted)
σ3 = 20 psi (Original)
σ3 = 20 psi (Predicted)

10000
1 10 100 1000
Bulk Stress (psi)

Problem 2

Given the following flexible pavement structure,

p = 90 psi and a = 5 inches

8” HMA E1 = 300 ksi 1 = 0.35

8” Base E2 = 40 ksi 2 = 0.40

12” Subbase E3 = 20 ksi 3 = 0.45

∞ Subgrade E4 = 10 ksi 4 = 0.50

Using WinLEA:

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

a) Compute the horizontal strain, xx, at the bottom of the HMA layer and the
compressive strain, zz, on the top of the subgrade under the center of the load
assuming linear elastic behavior for all layers.

b) Repeat Part a by assuming that the subgrade layer is stress dependent, with the
following constitutive behavior: Mr (in psi) = k3 (d) k4 = 8,000 (d in psi)-0.2.

Hint:
i. Subdivide the nonlinear layer into several sublayers (four to six).

ii. Assume seed (initial) moduli.

iii. Run linear analysis.
iv. Find stresses. Iterate
v. Update moduli.
vi. Stop when results do not change.

c) Comment on your results in Parts a and b.

Solution

a)

xx (Bottom of HMA Layer) = -158.56 µ

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #5 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

zz (Top of Subgrade Layer) = 160.98 µ

b) Divide subgrade in 5 layers of 4inch. Assume 10000psi for elastic modulus for starting
iteration.

Final iteration combination:

xx (Bottom of HMA Layer) = -159.50 µ

zz (Top of Subgrade Layer) = 179.73 µ

c) Changing behavior of subgrade from elastic to stress dependency, increases the

compressive strain on top of subgrade layers by 11.65%. The horizontal stress at the
bottom of HMA layer increases very little amount.

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