Triaxial, Mecleod, CBR
Triaxial, Mecleod, CBR
Triaxial, Mecleod, CBR
Tri-axial Method-
• L. A. Palmer and E. S. Barber in 1990 proposed the design method
based on Boussinesq’s displacement equation for homogeneous
elastic single layer;
3𝑝𝑎2
∆= 1/2
2𝐸 𝑎2 + 𝑧2
𝑝 = 𝑃/𝜋𝑎2
3𝑃
Therefor, ∆= /
2𝜋𝐸 𝑎2+𝑧2 1 2
1
3𝑃
𝑎2 + 𝑧2 2 =
2𝜋𝐸∆
2 2
3𝑃 2
𝑎 +𝑧 =
2𝜋𝐸∆
3𝑃 2
2
Assuming that the pavement is incompressible, z becomes T, the
thickness of pavement,
3𝑃 2
𝑇= − 𝑎2
2∆𝜋𝐸𝑠
Here,
T = pavement thickness, cm
P = wheel load, kg
Es = modulus of elasticity of subgrade from triaxial test result. Kg/cm2
A = radius of contact area, cm
∆ = design deflection (0.25 cm)
In the analysis the pavement and the subgrade ae assumed to have the
same E-value.
• The Kansas state highway department of usa employs
this design equation along with empirical modification
for:
1. Traffic coefficient , X and
2. Saturation coefficient, Y.
• These coefficient are used as multiplying factors to the
total pavement thickness value which is thus
modified.
3𝑃𝑋𝑌 2 2 1 / 2
𝑇= − 𝑎
2∆𝜋𝐸𝑠
Traffic coefficient (X) ADT (number)
1/2 40-400
2/3 401-800
5/6 802-1200
1 1201-1800
7/6 1801-2700
8/6 2701-4000
9/6 4001-6000
10/6 6001-9000
11/6 9001-13500
12/6 13501-20000
1
3𝑃𝑋𝑌 2 2 1 /2 𝐸𝑠
𝑇= − 𝑎 { }3
2∆𝜋𝐸𝑠 𝐸𝑝
• The relation between pavement layers of thickness t1 and t2 of elastic modulus E1 and
E2 is given by :
𝑡1 𝐸2 1 /3
=
𝑡2 𝐸1
PROBLEM:-
Design the pavement section by triaxial test method using the following data:
Wheel load = 4100 kg
Radius of contact area = 15 cm
Traffic coefficient, X = 1.5
Rainfall coefficient Y = 0.9
Design deflection ∆ = 0.25 cm
E-value of subgrade soil Es = 100 kg/cm2
E-value of 7.5 cm thick bituminous concrete surface course = 1000kg/cm2
Solution
3𝑃𝑋𝑌 2 𝐸𝑠 1/3
Tb = { − 𝑎2} ( )
2𝜋𝐸𝑠∆ 𝐸𝑏
3×4100×1.5×0.9 2 100 1/3= 104.64*0.63 = 65.9 cm
={ − 152}
2𝜋×100×0.25 400
Let 7.5 cm bituminous concrete surface with Ec = 1000 kg/cm2 b equivalent to the
thickness tb of base course. The equivalent replacement tb is obtained from relation:
𝑡𝑏 𝐸𝑐 1/3 𝑡𝑏 1000 1/3 1000 1/3
= ( ) i.e., = , tb = 7.5*( ) =10.2cm
𝑡𝑐 𝐸𝑏 7.5 400 400
Therefore the required base course thickness = 65.9-10.2=55.7 cm
The pavement section consists of 55.7 cm thick WBM base course and
7.5 cm thick bituminous concrete surface.
4.McLeod Method
• Norman W. McLeod through Canadian Department of Transport conducted
extensive plate bearing tests on airfield and highway pavement and developed
a design method.
• The repetitive plate bearing test procedure was employed using various sizes
of plates.
• From the plate load test an empirical design equation was recommended:-
𝑃
T=K log10
𝑆
Here T = required thickness of gravel base, cm
P = gross wheel load, kg
S = total subgrade support, kg (for the same contact area, deflection and
number of repletion of load P), K = base course constant
Problem-
• Design a highway pavement for a wheel load of
4100kg with a tyre pressure of 5 kg/cm2. The plate
bearing test carried out on subgrade soil using 30 cm
diameter plate yielded a pressure of 2.5 kg/cm2 after
10 repetitions of load at 0.5 cm deflection.
Solution-
𝑃 4100
• Radius of contact, a = = = 16.1 𝑐𝑚
𝑝𝜋 5𝜋
𝑃 2 2
• Perimeter over area ratio, = = = 0.124
𝐴 𝑎 16.1
• Using Graph, the ratio of unit subgrade support on 32.2 cm diameter
plate at 0.5 cm deflection is 0.95.
Therefore, unit support at 0.5 cm deflection = 0.95 x 2.5 =
2.44kg/cm2
Design subgrade support on 32.2 cm diameter plate,
32.22
𝑆 = 2.44𝜋 = 2100𝑘𝑔
4
• Base course constant for 32.2 cm diameter plate is
obtained from graph as 90.
• Granular pavement thickness,
𝑃 4100
𝑇 = 𝐾 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 = 90 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 = 26 𝑐𝑚
𝑆 21000