Soil Compaction and

Pavement Design

pneumatic rubber-tired roller vibratory steel-wheeled roller

Sheeps foot roller

 I. Overview of Soil Compaction
A. Compaction (concept): the densification
of soil by removal of air.
Requires mechanical energy
Densification increases with help of
water

water acts as softening agent and allows

soil particles to slip over one another,
thereby increasing the packing factor
 There is an optimal moisture content that
maximizes densification, or maximum density
optimum moisture, maximum density
Unit weight has units of
density * gravity
I. Overview
B. Factors Affecting Compaction
1. Grain size
2. Grain shape
3. Sorting
II. Laboratory Methods for Determining OM and MD

The Proctor Test (after Ralph R. Proctor, 1933)

II. Laboratory Methods for Determining OM and MD

The Proctor Test (after Ralph R. Proctor, 1933)

II. The Method

The Proctor Test (after Ralph R. Proctor, 1933)

II. The Method

The Proctor Test (after Ralph R. Proctor, 1933)

Unit weight has units of
density * gravity
III. Terms to Reckon with
Porosity: = volume of voids n = Vv
volume total of material Vt

Moisture Content: = weight of water w = Ww

weight of dry soil Ws

Unit Weight: (w) = weight of soil and water w = Ws+Ww = Ww

(moist) volume total of soil Vt Vt
(lbs/ft3)

Unit Weight (d) : = unit weight (wet) (d) = w

(dry) 1 + (moisture content /100) 1+(w/100)
(lbs/ft3)
IV. Field Methods of Determining if OM &
MD are achieved
A. Sand Cone Method
 IV. Field Methods of Determining if OM &
MD have been achieved
A. Sand Cone Method

Unit Weight: = weight of soil and water w = Ws+Ww = Ww

(moist) volume total of soil Vt Vt

Moisture Content: = weight of water w = Ww

weight of soil Ws
IV. Field Methods of Determining if OM &
MD have been achieved
B. Nuclear Density Meter
V. Pavement Design
A. Overview
Degree of curvature

Principal cause of pavement failure shown abovenot the blacktop

V. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

How to build a road!

V. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
1. The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a
penetration test for evaluation of the mechanical
strength of road subgrades and basecourses. It
was developed by the California Department of
Transportation.
V. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
1. The California bearing ratio (CBR) is a penetration test
for evaluation of the mechanical strength of road
subgrades and basecourses. It was developed by the
California Department of Transportation.

2. The test is performed by measuring the

pressure required to penetrate a soil sample
with a plunger of standard area. The measured
pressure is then divided by the pressure
required to achieve an equal penetration on a
standard crushed rock material.
V. Pavement Design
B. California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
3. The Test

Take load readings at penetrations of:

the result
0.025 70 psi
0.05...115 psi
0.1.220 psi
0.2.300 psi
0.4.320 psi

6 mold
Achieve OM &MD

Penetrations of 0.05 per minute

4. Plot the Data

350

300

250
Load on Piston (psi)

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Penetration (inches)
5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.
350

300

250

Load on Piston (psi)

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Penetration (inches)

The Gold Standard for CBR Example above:

for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi
The standard material for this test is
crushed California limestone
5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.
350

300
Example psi = CBR
Standard psi 250

Load on Piston (psi)

200

220 psi = .22, or 22%

150
1000 psi
300 psi = .20, or 20% 100

1500 psi 50

CBR of material = 22% 0

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Penetration (inches)

The Gold Standard for CBR Example above:

for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi
5. Determine the percent of compacted crushed stone values for the 0.1 and 0.2
penetration.

Example psi = CBR In General:

Standard psi The harder the surface, the higher the CBR rating.
A CBR of 3 equates to tilled farmland,
A CBR of 4.75 equates to turf or moist clay,
220 psi = .22, or 22% Moist sand may have a CBR of 10.
1000 psi High quality crushed rock has a CBR over 80.
300 psi = .20, or 20% The standard material for this test is crushed California
1500 psi limestone which has a value of 100.

CBR of material = 22%,

or 22

The Gold Standard for CBR Example above:

for 0.1 of penetration, 1000 psi for 0.1 of penetration, 220 psi
for 0.2 of penetration, 1500 psi for 0.2 of penetration, 300 psi
 Potential Corrections to the
Stress-Penetration Curves

350

300

250
Load on Piston (psi)

200

150

100

50

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Penetration (inches)
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
1. Determine
The CBR values of the subgrade
The type of use expected (runways vs.
taxiways)
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
1. Determine
The CBR values of the subgrade
The type of use expected (runways vs.
taxiways)
The expected wheel load during service
Types of CBR materials available for the
construction
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
2. Primary Goals
Total strength of each layer only as good as what is
beneath it
Therefore, must meet minimum thickness requirements
Dont break the bank
Use less inexpensive CBR materials when allowed while
not shortchanging the projects integrity
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)?
 a point on the curve for a
given CBR material represents
the minimum thickness of
pavement courses that will
reside above it, in order to
maintain stability
CBR subbase of 8,
Taxiway, and wheel load
of 40,000 lb
23 inches
V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?
 V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)?
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches?

Wheel Pound Loads CBR Value Wearing Surface

15,000 or less 50 0-15k.....2
15k-40k 65 >15k-40k..3
40k-70k 80 >40k-55k..4
70k-150k 80+ >55k-70k..5
>70k..6
 V. Pavement Design
C. The Mechanics of the Design
3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)? 3 inches
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches? 6 inches of CBR 65/80

Wheel Pound Loads CBR Value Wearing Surface

15,000 or less 50 0-15k.....2
>15k-40k 65 >15k-40k..3
>40k-70k 80 >40k-55k..4
>70k-150k 80+ >55k-70k..5
>70k..6
 3 6
V. Pavement Design CBR = 80

C. The Mechanics of the Design

3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)? 3 inches
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches? 6 inches of CBR 65/80

Wheel Pound Loads CBR Value Wearing Surface

15,000 or less 50 0-15k.....2
>15k-40k 65 >15k-40k..3
>40k-70k 80 >40k-55k..4
>70k-150k 80+ >55k-70k..5
>70k..6
 3 6
V. Pavement Design CBR = 80

C. The Mechanics of the Design

3. An example
A compacted subgrade has a CBR value of 8. What is the minimum
pavement thickness if it is to support a taxiway pavement
designed to support a 80,000 lb airplane (40,000 wheel load)
23 inches
What is the optimal pavement thickness (wearing surface)? 3 inches
What is the optimal CBR value of upper 6 inches? 6 inches of CBR 65/80
What can we use for the remainder of thickness?
Wheel Pound Loads CBR Value Wearing Surface
15,000 or less 50 0-15k.....2
>15k-40k 65 >15k-40k..3
>40k-70k 80 >40k-55k..4
>70k-150k 80+ >55k-70k..5
>70k..6
Need = 9 minimum
thickness
CBR = 27 for
remainder of base
(14)
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
 Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs

CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9

of pavement courses above it.
 Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9
of pavement courses above it.
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
 Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
CBR of 30 needs minimum of 9
of pavement courses above it.
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
14 of CBR 30
Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
 Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6
 Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

A CBR of 15 requires X above it

 Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it

 Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it

A CBR of 30 requires X above it
 Another Example:
Given: Same CBR subgrade as
before

Materials available of:

CBR=15, 30, 80

Determine:
Optimal thickness of each
layer while minimizing costs
3 of wearing surface
6 of CBR 80 in upper 6

A CBR of 15 requires 15 above it

A CBR of 30 requires 9 above it
Your turn.

Subbase of CBR=7,
50,000 lb loads for a taxiway
CBR materials available: 80, 30, 15

Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing costs and stability
Your turn.

Sub base of CBR=7,

50,000 lb loads for a taxiway
CBR materials available: 80, 30, 15

Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing

costs and stability
Solution:
Total Thickness: 28
Wearing Surface Thickness: 4
Upper 6 of CBR=80
CBR 30 of 7
CBR 15 of 11
Homework:

Subbase of CBR=15,
70,000 lb loads for a runway
CBR materials available: 80, 40, 20

Design the pavement with attention paid to optimizing costs and stability