401.

SUBBASE
401.01 Definition
This section includes the subbase layer which is obtained within the range of mentioned
gradation levels (including the case of using shaven-asphalt) by stirring the material which is
prepared for being perpetually given gradation with water and the implementation of laying
top on the completed surface layer in the form of one or more layers and consolidating
suitably with the plan, profile and cross-sections which are mentioned within the project.
401.02 Material
The material which is used for the process of construction of subbase is sand, gravel, bank
gravel, weathered rock, decayed rock, slag, crushed stone, shaven-asphalt and a single type of
similar materials or the mixture of materials which is obtained by two or more materials in the
case of using shaven-asphalt material (max. 25%). The mixture ratios of the participated
materials will be specified on the Mixture Design Report when the subbase material is
prepared by stirring two or more aggregate members including the shaven-asphalt.
The materials which are shaven from the layers of decayed hot bituminous mixture and also
are not available to be used again in the preparation of new hot bituminous mixtures can be
used in the process of Type-B subbase construction at the maximum mixture ratio of 25%. If
the shaven-asphalt material is used the mixture ratio will be determined in accordance with
the results of Type-B subbase conformity lab tests and the dane dimension of the shavedasphalt material which is used during the preparation of the mixture will be no bigger than
37.5 mm.
In the case the administration approves the design of the mixture, the utilization permit of the
regarded mixture can be gained after the confirmation of the Mixture Design Report which is
issued by the contractor laboratory or preferably accredited laboratories. Nevertheless, the
contractor laboratory will be held accountable for the deterioration which is derived from the
mixture design.
The quarries which these materials are provided from must have been confirmed by the
general directorate of highways, the head of engineering of region research and development
or the head of department of research and development and it will be taken under the
surveillance of material control engineer. The subbase material should meet the requirements
below. The grading which is obtained by the implementation of the methods mentioned by the
standards of AASHTO T 27, T 11 or TS 1900-1 will be within the mentioned limits on Table
401-1 and will be properly-graded.
Table-401-1 Subbase Material Grading Limits
TYPE-A

TYPE-B

mm

SIEVE APERTURE
in

The sieved proportion

The sieved proportion

75
50
37.5

3
2
1

100
85-100

100
80-100
1

25
19
9.5
4.75
2.00
0.425
0.075

3/8
No.4
No.10
No.40
No.200

70-100
45-80
30-75
10-25
0-12

60-90
45-80
30-70
25-55
15-40
10-20
0-12

The part of the material that is passed through 0,075mm sieve will not greater than 2/3 of the
part of the material that is passed through 0,425mm sieve.
When the subbase materials are provided from sand-gravel quarries, the gradation of all-in
material should comply with the Type-A gradation limits. The materials do not meet Type-A
gradation limits will be eliminated. When the subbase material is prepared by breaking from
sand-grave or quarries, the gradation of the material should comply with the Type-B gradation
limits. If the material is prepared by breaking from sand-grave quarries, two or more faces of
the least half of the residue on 4,75mm sieve should be broken.
The other physical characteristics of the material that is going to be used in the process of
subbase construction should meet requirements on Table-401-2.
Table 401-2 The Physical Characteristics of the Subbase Material
NAME OF TEST
% The endurance against the
air effects, the loss with
MgSO4, %
Resistance to fragmentation
(Los Angeles), %
flatness index, %
Water Absorption (coarse
and fine aggregate), %

SPECIFICATION
LIMITS

TESTING STANDARD

25(MS25)

TS EN 1367 - 2

35
30(FI30)

TS EN 1097 2
AASHTO T 96
BS 812
TS EN 933 3*

3,5 (WA243,5)

TS EN 1097 - 6

45(LA45)

Liquid Limit, %

25

Plasticity index, %

Clay lump and diffusion

dane proportion, max %
Organic matter, (with 3% of
NaOH)
Methylene
0/2mm part
blue MB
of fine
g/kg
aggregate
0/2mm part

TS 1900 1
AASHTO T 89
TS 1900 1
AASHTO T 90

Coarse material
(on 4,75mm sieve)
2

ASTM C 142

Negative

TS EN 1744 - 1

4,0 (MB4,0)
5,5 (MB5,5)**

TS EN 933 - 9

5,5 (MB5,5)**
2

of pulverized
magmatic
aggregate
* Reference Method
**This condition will be required in the case the requested values of specification are not
met by the fine aggregate which are produced at magmatic rocks and site crusher.
The wet values CBR (AASHTO T 193, 1900-2) of the samples that are compacted up to 98%
of the maximum dry unit weight which is founded by Modified proctor test (AASHTO T 180,
TS 1900-1) will be at the minimum ratio of 30% for Type-A while it will be at the minimum
ratio of 50% for Type-B.
If the subbase material which is prepared by two or more dane dimension group including
single type or shaven-asphalt materials is stirred with water on the plant and spread by
finisher, this material will be determined as plant-mix subbase and in this case Type-B
gradation limits will be considered.

401.03 Construction Conditions

401.03.01 Deployment
The subbase material will be deployed and compacted in the layers on the base that is
prepared by completing the construction and grading that the compressed thickness will be no
greater than 20 cm and this process will be conducted by following the instructions of control
engineer.
However, the case that the capacity of compaction machine is pretty high, the thickness of
layer can be enhanced up to 30cm in accordance with the tests and the confirmation of the
control engineer. If the subbase is deployed on the several layers basis, the thickness of each
layer should be equal.
When the subbase material is a plant-mix, the deployment will be implemented by finisher.
The road-bed will be swelling and chuckhole free and also it will be removed in the case of
any loose. The subbase material will be deployed neither on the frozen layer nor in the
conditions that the subbase can freeze.
The process of deployment will be conducted with the equipment that provides a deployment
in the form of homogeneous, equal proportion and equal thickness. Once the deployment and
compaction implemented, the layer thickness will be no greater than the values that are
indicated above.
5 out of 15 cm of subbase material layer which is recommended on the project for editing can
be deployed by a grader in order to obtain pretty smooth surface and 10cm less subbase layer
can be deployed by the finisher on this surface in the following particular situations: In the
consistency that the pavement layer material does not give any rock or non-smooth and in the
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case of containing 3 or more materials at road segments, and the spaces on the surface cannot
be graded by fine-rock material.
The deployment process should be began at the remotest point from where the material is
taken and should be proceeded towards this place. The gap between the deployment and the
compaction processes should not be greater than 200m and the deployed material should be
compacted by the each ending of work day.
If there is a need for subbase deployment on several layers basis due to the surplus in the
thickness which is mentioned on the project, the thickness of the layers will be equal and the
deployment process of the layers should only be carried on as long as the layers are
compacted up to the required unit weight.
When the spreader machine is in use, it should be located on one side of the road as a
windrow however it should not be left on the edge of platform during the rainy and cold
weathers.
There should not be any traffic on the recently deployed and compacted material.
A grading will be conducted by a grader throughout the section width after the deployment of
the material. Meanwhile, it should be paid great attention not to spoil material gradation.
The amount of the water which is used during the process of deployment and grading of the
subbase material will be 2 of the result of Modified Proctor for Type-A whilst the amount of
water will be in between W(opt-2) and Wopt for Type-B.

401.03.02 Compaction
The subbase material should be compacted by taking the values on Table401-4 as a basis.
The compaction will be conducted by the straight-bandaged cylinders which have the least
working weight is 11.0000kgs and the static line load is greater than 30kgs/cm, and have dualfrequency vibration system and/or rubber-tired cylinders that have not less 3.500kgs load per
tire. In addition to that the most appropriate technique will be determined in accordance with
the material in use and the deployed layer thickness by conducting a test section at the
beginning of the work. The test section will be consisted of 3 rolling strips at least which has
the length greater than 100m.
The compaction process will be proceeded parallel to road axis and it will be started from the
lower grade at first, then will be shifted towards axis. At the horizontal curves, the process
will start from the inside of the curve and continue through the outside. At each pass, the
previously passed compacted section will be lapped in the least extent of 10% of the cylinder
width. At all rolling-stripes, the second pass will not be conducted unless the first pass is
finished.
In the existence of segregated parts during the process of compaction, the materials of these
parts should be removed and substituted for appropriate material and then should be
compacted.
4

If the thickness of compacted subbase is 10% greater or less than the thickness which is
mentioned on the project, the material surface should be swelled in order to add or subtract
where necessary and then should be re-compacted.
The places such as Kerb, forms and wall sides where the cylinder cannot roll, will be
compacted by vibrating plated-compactors, vibrating tampers or tiny hand-drawn vibrating
cylinders.
The methods which will be applied in order to determine the dry unit weight of the land are
shown on Table 401-3.
After controlling, if the deployed layer is not compacted in the given extents on Table 401-4,
an additional watering can be implemented and compacted in order to achieve the desired unit
weight.
The laboratory maximum dry unit weight which is taken as a basis during the controlling of
compaction should be edited where necessary. This editing should be in accordance with
AASHTO T 224 due to the change in the proportion of coarse aggregate.
After the completion of compacting, latitudinal and longitudinal controls of surface
smoothness will be performed with 4 meters length non-plastic screed. For the longitudinal
control of the road, when the screed is positioned parallel to road axis and put on the road
surface at intervals through the width of surface, the gap between the screed and the road
surface will be no more than 20mm at where the section between any 2 touchpoints of the
screed and the road surface. For the latitudinal control of the finished layer, the gap will be no
more than 20mm again when the screed will be put perpendicular to road axis.
The gap between any point of the finished layer and the project grade will be no more than
20mm of elevation difference.
The subbase surface should be preserved and maintained pertinent to the mentioned crosssection and the longitudinal slope on the project until the base layer is constituted.

Table 401-3 Land Dry Unit Weight Determining Methods

Test Method

Sand cone
method
Roller method
Nuclear method

Maximum grain size of the

material
in

mm

in 6 diameter

50

in 12 diameter

75

in 10 diameter
in 12 diameter

1
3

37,5
75

1 1/2

37,5

Testing Standard
TS1900-1, AASHTO
T 191
TS1900-1, AASHTO
T 191
AASHTO T 181
AASHTO T 181
ASTM D 6938-10,
AASHTO T 310-11

Table-401-4 The criteria of Subbase Compacting

TYPE-A

TYPE-B

Compacting, min
%
Optimal water
content %

96

Wopt 2

Compacting, min
%

98

Compacting, min
%

95

Optimal water
content %

(Wopt-2) - Wopt

Optimal water
content %

Wopt 1

Modified Proctor
TS 19001-1,
AASHTO T 180
Modified Proctor
TS 19001-1,
AASHTO T 180
Modified Proctor
TS 19001-1,
AASHTO T 180
Vibrating Tamper
TS 1900-1, BS 1377
Modified Proctor
TS 19001-1,
AASHTO T 180
Vibrating Tamper
TS 1900-1, BS 1377

401.04 Quality Control Tests

In order to control both the material which is used in the process and the layer that is
produced, there are required periodic tests and the names of the tests and the frequency of
testing are given on the Table-401-5.
Table-401-5 Quality Control Tests
Name of test
Dane size distribution
TS 19001-1, AASHTO T 27,11
Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit
TS 19001-1, AASHTO T 89,90
Methylene blue
TS EN 933-9
Resistance to fragmentation (Los Angeles)
TS EN 1097-2, AASHTO T 96
The endurance against the air effects, the
loss with MgSO4
TS EN 1367-2, AASHTO T 104
Flatness index
BS 812, TS EN 933-3
Water content
TS 1900-1
The relevance of Dry Unit Weight Water
Content
TS 1900-1, AASHTO T 180

Minimum test count and frequency of

testing
1 test for each 2.000m3
1 test for each 2.000m3
1 test for each 2.000m3
Each time there is a change in material or
gradation and also once every six months.
Each time there is a change in material or
gradation and also once every six months.
Each time there is a change in material or
gradation and also monthly.
1 test for each 2.000m3
Each time there is a change in material or
gradation and also monthly.
6

Wet CBR
Each time there is a change in material or
TS 1900-2, AASHTO T 193
gradation and also monthly.
Sand cone method
1 test at 1.000m2 of each layer
TS 1900-1, AASHTO T 191
Roller method
1 test at 1.000m2 of each layer
AASHTO T 181
Nuclear method*
1 test at 250m2 of each layer
ASTM D 6938-10, AASHTO T 310-11
* The results of the compacting tests which are obtained by the implementation of nuclear
method at least 10 different points and by Sand cone or roller method implementation will
be correlated. If the compacting control is conducted with nuclear method an additional
compacting test should be conducted by implementing one of the other methods once for
each 2.500m2. Quality control tests should be conducted at least mentioned counts on the
table above and in the frequency that the control engineer approves.

401.05 Validation Test

The validation test is conducted so as to find out whether the form of subbase layer and the
pavement base that supports the subbase layer is uniform or not and also to find out the weak
and non-compacted parts on the subbase or pavement base. The validation test will be
conducted up on the administration request.
During the implementation of this test;
1. Test equipment can be a pneumatic rubber-tired cylinder, two axle truck or the watertender that is used for watering.
2. The tires of the rubber-tired cylinder that is used for this test should be equally spaced
and the load will be distributed equally.
3. The test equipment/vehicle should weigh 30-40 tons.
4. The tires of the equipment/vehicle should have the pressure value of 90-150 psi (6201040 kilopascals). The pressure values should be measured and recorded before
testing.
401.05.01 Implementation
After completing the subbase layer compacting and just before the deployment of the main
base, validation test will be conducted on the parts that are determined by control engineer.
The validation testing subbase material should have water content at least the value of Wopt-4
during the test.
The test equipment/vehicle should move in between the speed values of 4-8 km/h.
Nevertheless, the speed of the test equipment/vehicle can be arranged in order to determine
and measure the facts such as prospect resilience, deflexion, and collapse on the layer on
where the test equipment/vehicle moves.

The validation test will be performed on one or more stops basis. The rubbed-tires will press
on the various areas of subbase layer, during these passes.
The subbase parts which are non-static, collapsed and acting non-uniformly are defined by the
validation test and the source of the issues will be investigated.
Weak and collapsed parts of the road-base which are determined in the conclusion of the
validation test, will be dug then removed and subbase or selected material will be substituted
for the removed parts in order be better off. Moreover, the determined surface irregularities on
the subbase layer will be removed.