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Together with the assessment of the traffic loading,

the support provided by the subgrade is the most
important factor in determining the required pavement
thickness.
There are a number of methods of measuring the
subgrade strength, ideally each method being
appropriate to the design philosophy being adopted.

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The principal methods are as follows:

(A) CBR (California Bearing Ratio) the

most commonly measured parameter
for assessing the strength of the
subgrade.

The principal methods are as follows:

(B) MR (Resilient Modulus) this provides a

measure of the elastic property of the
subgrade soil and is determined in
accordance with the method defined in
AASHTO Test Method T294.

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The principal methods are as follows:

(C) K (Modulus of Subgrade Reaction) this effectively
provides a measure of subgrade support in terms of a
bearing capacity and is used in the design of rigid
pavements. The k-value can be determined by field tests
or by correlation with other tests. There is no direct
laboratory procedure for determining k-value.

NOTE:

CBR is adopted as the principal

method
of
determining
subgrade
strength.

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The assessment of the subgrade is

dependent on
Soil Type

Density

Moisture
Content

WHAT IS A WATER TABLE?

The level below which the ground is saturated with water.

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In the tropics, including the Philippines, subgrade moisture content under

surfaced (asphalt or PCC) pavements can be classified under 2 main categories:

1) Category 1
Subgrade where the water table is sufficiently close to the ground
surface to control subgrade moisture content. The type of subgrade soil
governs the depth at which a water table becomes the main influence on the
subgrade moisture content. Typical values of depth related to soil type are as
follows:
(i) Non-plastic soils, depth of water table below ground surface 1m or less.
(ii) Sandy Clays (PI < 20%), depth of water table below ground surface 3m or less.
(iii) Heavy Clays (PI > 40%), depth of water table below ground surface 7m or less.

In the tropics, including the Philippines, subgrade moisture content under

surfaced (asphalt or PCC) pavements can be classified under 2 main categories:

2) Category 2
Subgrades with deep water tables and where rainfall is
sufficient to produce significant changes in moisture
conditions under the road.

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Methods of estimating the subgrade design moisture content are discussed

below:

a) Category 1
The easiest method of estimating the subgrade design
moisture content is to measure the moisture below existing
pavements in similar situations, at the time of year when the
water table is at its highest level. Existing pavements should be
at least 2 years old and greater than 3m wide. The sample
should preferably be taken from under the carriageway about
0.5 m from the edge.

Methods of estimating the subgrade design moisture content are discussed

below:

b) Category 2
When the water table is not near the surface, the
subgrade moisture condition under an impermeable pavement
will depend on the balance between water entering the
subgrade through the shoulders and at the edges of the
pavement during wet weather and the moisture leaving the
ground by evapotranspiration during dry periods.

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Having determined the design moisture content for the

subgrade, it is then necessary to define the density at which the
CBR is to be measured.
When an existing pavement is to be upgraded and existing
pavement layers which od not exhibit defects due to subgrade
failure are to be retained, the density to be used will be the
insitu density of the subgrade as measured in the field.
In case of a new pavement, subgrade compaction will be in
accordance with the specification which will define the
required minimum density.

Having determined the design moisture content and density of

the subgrade soil, samples of the subgrade soil at the design
subgrade moisture content can then be compacted in CBR moulds to
the specified density (or insitu density where appropriate) and
tested to determine the CBR values.
If saturated subgrade conditions are anticipated, the compacted
samples for the CBR test should be saturated by immersion in water
for four days before being tested. In all other cases when CBR is
determined by direct measurement, the CBR samples should not be
immersed since this results in over design.

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ADOPTION OF TYPICAL CBR

VALUES
Typical values of CBR may be used for feasibility study purposes and it is particularly
and are given in the table below. For all other purpos es, laboratory testing must be carried
out.
Estimated design subgrade strength class under sealed roads in the presence of a
water table.
*DEPTH OF WATER
TA BLE FROM
SUBG RA DE LEVEL
(M ETRES)

CBR VA LUES
NON-PLA STIC SA ND

SA NDY CLAY
PI = 10

SA NDY CLAY
PI = 20

SILTY CLAY
PI = 30

HEAVY CLAY
PI > 40

0.5

8 -14

8 - 14

3- 4

3- 4

15- 29

8 - 14

5- 7

3- 4

15 29

15 - 29

8 - 14

5- 7

3- 4

30

15 - 29

8 -14

5- 7

3- 4

The highest seasonal level attained by the water table should be used.

The design philosophy is that all inputs to the

design process should be mean values. It is
sufficient to take the mean of all CBR values for
design purposes.