Pavement Layers and Material

Properties

By

Dr. Imran Hafeez

Prof.
Dept. of Civil Engg.
University of Engg. & Tech. TAXILA
Email:imranhafeez783@yahoo.com
 Function of Sub-grade
• The subgrade is the compacted
soil layer that forms the foundation of
the pavement system.
• Subgrade soils are subjected to
lower stresses than the surface, base,
and sub-base courses.
• Since load stresses decrease
with depth, the controlling subgrade
stress usually lies at the top of the
subgrade.
• The combined thickness of sub-
base, base, and wearing surface must be
great enough to reduce the stresses
occurring in the subgrade to values that
will not cause excessive distortion or
displacement of the subgrade soil layer.
 What are Sub base & base course layers?
• Sub-Base and Base course
are the intermediate layers
between asphalt
(bound)layers and a
subgrade
• Commonly known as
granular or unbound layers.

The soil prepared and compacted to

support a structure or a pavement
system is called as Sub-grade.
 Purpose of Base & Sub-Base Course
• To provide sufficient strength to
pavement structure, while reducing
stresses to levels that can sustained
by the subgrade.
• To distribute traffic wheel loads
over the whole foundation.
• Minimize the intrusion of fines from
the sub-grade into the pavement
structure.
• Improve drainage & minimize frost
action damage.
• Economize the cost of pavement
construction
• Exhibits elastoplastic behavior in
response to the loading and
unloading conditions imposed by
traffic loads.
 GRANULAR BASE REQUIREMENTS
• Type of material Natural River Bed, natural deposits (pit or quarry), mechanically
fractured aggregate, sand, slag, ballast, waste, combinations of
these. Additives, treated/untreated, geosynthetics/geogrids,
stabilized material, RAS/RAP etc.
• Gradation
– Base (Flexible): – Well or Open Graded
– Base (Rigid): – Well or Open Graded, Less Fines
– Unpaved Roads: – Well Graded, More Fines

• Maximum Size: Typical size may be

– Base (Flexible): – 1-2”
– Base (Rigid): – 1-2”
– Unpaved Roads: –  1”

• Material – Typical Types: [AASHTO A-1, A-2, A-3] GW,GM, etc.

classifications

• Plasticity – LL  25, PI  6 (May Be Higher for Unpaved)

Aggregate Production
 Aggregate Production Process
• Impact
– Gravity & Dynamic
– For cubical shapes
– For Well gradation
• Attrition
• Material is friable or not too
abrasive.
• Closed-circuit system is not
desirable to control top size.
• Shearing
– Material is somewhat friable
/low silica content. Impact Attrition
– For primary crushing with a
reduction ratio of 6 to 1.
• Compression
– Material is hard , tough and
abrasive
– If the material is not sticky.
– When the material will break
cubically.

Shearing Compression
 Aggregate Properties
Material Properties
Particle shape & texture: (Flakiness &
Elongated, Angularity, Fractured face)
Sieve Analysis, Sizes & Gradations
Spec. gravities, absorptions , moisture
content, Unit weight (LUW & RUW),
Maximum density
Plasticity (Limits), Sand equivalent, Fines
contents (Passing #200), Deleterious &
Friable materials
Abrasion Resistance (Gradation change)
(LAAV) or Toughness, Crushing value,
Impact value, Polishing value, Durability
Index, Soundness, , freeze-thaw, Thermal
Conductivity,
CBR (%), & R-Value, Resilient Modulus,
Permeability,
Relevant Standards
BS 812.108, ASTM D4791, ASTM D5821,
AASHTO T304
AASHTO T27, ASTM C136
AASHTO T85,T19, ASTM D5298,
AASHTO T19
ASTM D4318, AASHTO T89, T90,
D2419, AASHTO T11, AASHTO T112,
T71,
AASHTO T96, T279, BS812, AASHTO
T30, T210, ASTM D3319, AASHTO
T103,104, ASTM D3744,
(α range: 0.5x10-6 to 9x10-6 in/in/°F)
AASHTO T193,T104, AASHTO T294,
AASHTO T 277, AASHTO T292
 Consensus Properties
• Aggregate properties which are critical to well
performing asphaltic concrete are called
Consensus Properties because there is a wide
agreement in their use and specified values.

• These properties are based on the criterion of

traffic level and position within the pavement
structure. Materials closer to the pavement surface
requires strict consensus properties as these are
subjected to high traffic levels. The criterion must
not be applied to individual component but is
intended to be applied to proposed aggregate
blend. The consensus aggregate properties are:

• Coarse Aggregate Angularity

• Fine Aggregate Angularity
• Flat and Elongated Particles
 Consensus Properties
• Aggregate properties which are critical to well
performing asphaltic concrete are called
Consensus Properties because there is a wide
agreement in their use and specified values.

• These properties are based on the criterion of

traffic level and position within the pavement
structure. Materials closer to the pavement surface
requires strict consensus properties as these are
subjected to high traffic levels. The criterion must
not be applied to individual component but is
intended to be applied to proposed aggregate
blend. The consensus aggregate properties are:

• Coarse Aggregate Angularity

• Fine Aggregate Angularity
• Flat and Elongated Particles
 Shape and Textures
The coarse aggregate angularity as “The
percentage by mass of the aggregates
larger than 4.75 mm with one or more
fractured faces (ASTM D5821)
The fine aggregate angularity as “The
percent air voids present in loosely
compacted aggregates smaller than 2.36
mm (AASHTO T304)
BS: T <0.6 or L>1.8 SuperPave: Max:Min (5:1, 3:1, 2:1)

(CAA), p.136, NCAT

Single fracture face Two fracture face

 Aggregates Shape and Classification Charts:

Four Different Particle Shapes (Zingg) Hierarchical View of Form, Roundness& Texture
(Barret)
 Aggregates Shape Characteristics:

 Flatness Ratio = S / I
 Elongation Ratio = I / L
 Aspect Ratio = L / I
 Shape Factor = S / 𝐼. 𝐿
 Form Factor = 4.𝜋.A / P2
 Sphericity = 3 𝐼. 𝑆/𝐿2
 Roundness = 4 A/ 𝜋 [Major Axis]2
 Angularity Index = P2 / 4.𝜋.A
( I= Intermediate Axis, S= Shorter Axis, L= Longitudinal
Axis, P= Perimeter, A= Area)
 Aggregates Shape and Classification Charts:

Four Different Particle Shapes (Zingg) Hierarchical View of Form, Roundness& Texture
(Barret)
 Aggregates Shape Characteristics:

 Flatness Ratio = S / I
 Elongation Ratio = I / L
 Aspect Ratio = L / I
 Shape Factor = S / 𝐼. 𝐿
 Form Factor = 4.𝜋.A / P2
 Sphericity = 3 𝐼. 𝑆/𝐿2
 Roundness = 4 A/ 𝜋 [Major Axis]2
 Angularity Index = P2 / 4.𝜋.A
( I= Intermediate Axis, S= Shorter Axis, L= Longitudinal
Axis, P= Perimeter, A= Area)
 Sieve Analysis, Size Gradation

Cu = D60 / D10 , Cc = D230 / (D60 * D10)

MAXIMUM
AGGREGATE SIZE
Sieve #4
NOMINAL
MAXIMUM
ASTM D692 AGGREGATE SIZE
 COMPARISON OF GRANULAR BASES
Open Dense Too Much Fines
Density Low Max Low
Stability Good Highest Poor
Handling Difficult Medium Easy
Cohesion Poor Fair Good
Permeability High Low Imp.
Frost Susc. No May be Yes

• Increasing Fuller Constant “n” means more coarser the material

• Increasing moisture content means reducing the Mr value in a

Triaxial Test.
Specific Gravities, Unit Weight, Absorption
Plasticity (Limits), Sand equivalent, Fines contents
Increasing water content

SOLID
SEMI-SOLID PLASTIC LIQUID
(NON-PLASTIC)

SL PL PI LL

4.75 mm
 Permeability
• Ability of materials to carry water
• Affected by
– Porosity, D10, % passing #200
• Measured in the lab:
– Falling head test
– Constant head test
• Field testing:
– Permeability testing device
– Tipping buckets

Drained water = ne x U = Vv - Vw
Percent drainage
Drainage Coefficients for Untreated Base and
Subbase
Percent of Time Pavement Structure is Exposed
Quality of to Moisture Levels Approaching Saturation
Drainage
<1% 1-5% 5-15% >25%

Excellent 1.40-1.35 1.35-1.30 1.30-1.20 1.20

Good 1.35-1.25 1.25-1.15 1.15-1.00 1.00

Fair 1.25-1.15 1.15-1.05 1.00-0.80 0.80

Poor 1.15-1.05 1.05-0.80 0.80-0.60 0.60

Very Poor 1.05-0.95 0.95-0.75 0.75-0.40 0.40

 Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties of aggregates are related to their
resistance to degradation due to abrasion, polishing,
impact or loading stress in the pavement layer.

Grading, Number of Spheres, Mass

5-Cycles Sodium Sulphate
Soundness
Durability index is a value
indicating the relative resistance of
an aggregate to production of
detrimental clay-like fines when
subjected to the prescribed
mechanical methods of degradation
(Calcium chloride)
Dc =30.3 + 20.8 +cot(0.29+0.15 H)
of Charge, 500rev./33rpm, #12mm
ACV/AIV/TFV
Relative resistance of an
aggregate to crushing under a
gradually applied compressive
load of 400kN or sudden shock.
14.00 mm To10.00mm, Fineness
of 2.36mm as value, Not for
ACV>30(TFV, Force for 10%)
320rpm,3f+3c hrs,above 65
 CBR & MR
CBR (ASTM D1883) MR (AAHSTO T307)

d
r

0.05in/min
d
• Waveform: d = maxsin(p/2 + pt/d)or(1-cosω)/2
• Usual Loading Times:0.1s  0.9s;
– Related to Pavement Depth and
Vehicle Speed

• Granular Materials:
– MR = K1(1+2+3)k2 = K1qk2
• For Granular Materials, the Layer
Modulus Depends on the Modulus of the
Underlying Layer:
Resilient Modulus
Response of aggregate layer
under as wheel
Stress path
 Resilient Modulus
 q    oct 
Uzan Model k k 2 3

M r  k1 Pa       P 
 a 
P  a 

A plane which makes equal angles with

Papagiannakis and Masad. “Pavement Design and Materials
the principal axes of the stress tensor is
defined as the octahedral plane. The
normal stress on this plane is known as
octahedral normal stress, δoct, and the
shearing stress is referred to as the
octahedral shearing stress, τoct.
 Typical Comparison of Results
Material CBR R-Value Mr (psi)
Classification

Sand 31 60 16,900
Silt 20 59 11,200
Sandy Loam 25 21 11,600
Silt-Clay Loam 25 21 17,600
Silt Clay 7.6 18 8,200
Heavy Clay 5.2 <5 1,600

Papagiannakis and Masad. “Pavement Design and Materials

 Resilient Modulus of Unbound Granular and Subgrade
Materials at Optimum Moisture Content
Material Mr Range Typical Mr Material Mr Range Typical Mr
Classification (psi) (psi) Classification (psi) (psi)
A-1-a 38,500-42,000 40,000 A-4 21,500-29,000 24,000
A-1-b 35,500-40,000 38,000 A-5 17,000-25,000 20,000
A-2-4 28,000-37,500 32,000 A-6 13,500-24,000 17,000
A-2-5 24,000-33,000 28,000 A-7-5 8,000-17,500 12,000
A-2-6 21,500-31,000 26,000 A-7-6 5,000-13,500 8,000
A-2-7 21,500-28,000 24,000 CH 5,000-13,500 8,000
A-3 24,500-35,500 29,000 MH 8,000-17,500 11,500
SM 28,000-37,000 32,000 CL 13,500-24,000 17,000
GW 39,500-42,000 41,000 ML 17,000-25,000 20,000
GP 35,500-40,000 38,000 SW-SC 21,500-31,000 25,500
GW-GC 28,000-40,000 34,500 SP-SC 21,500-31,000 25,500
GW-GM 35,500-40,500 38,500 SP-SM 24,000-33,000 28,000
GP-GM 31,000-40,000 36,000 SC 21,500-28,000 24,000
GC 24,000-37,500 31,000 SW-SM 24,000-33,000 25,500
GM 33,000-42,000 38,500 SW 24,000-33,000 28,000
Papagiannakis and Masad. “Pavement Design and Materials
Typical Poisson’s ratio values for unbound granular
and subgrade materials at o.m.c
Material µ Range Typical µ
Classification

Clay (saturated) 0.4-0.5 0.45

Clay (unsaturated) 0.1-0.3 0.2

Sandy clay 0.2-0.3 0.25

Silt 0.3-0.35 0.325

Dense sand 0.2-0.4 0.3

Coarser grained sand 0.15 0.15

Fine grained sand 0.25 0.25

Bedrock 0.1-0.4 0.25

Papagiannakis and Masad. “Pavement Design and Materials

 Comparison of Base Course Material Properties
Material Properties Standards

Australia

German

ASTM
China
K.S.A
India
NHA

BS
Water absorption (Max.) AASHTO T85, 2% 2.5% 0.8% 2%
Flakiness/Elongated ASTM D4791 30% 30% 35% 35% 10- 17%
Index (Max.) 15%
Fractured Faces (Min.) ASTM D 5821 90% 85%
Liquid Limit (Max.) AASHTO T89 25% 25% 35%
Sand equivalent, Min. AASHTO T176 45% 45% 45%

Plasticity Index, max. AASHTO T90 6% 6% 6% 6% 6% 6% 8%

Toughness (LAAV), AASHTO T96 40% 40% 30% 30% 40% 35-40%
Max.
Crushing value, Max. AASHTO T279, 30% 30% 25% 45%

Durability Index, Min. AASHTOT210 35 35

Soundness (S.S), Max. AASHTO104 12% 10% 12% 25%

Impact value, Max. AASHTO 30% 30% 10% 30%

T30

CBR , Min. AASHTO T193 80% 80% 80% 100% 80%

Comparison of Aggregate gradations
 Comparison of Aggregate Base course
Gradation (Coarser grade)

AASHTO
Australia

German
Sieve Sieve

ASTM
China
K.S.A
India
NHA

BS
Sizes Sizes
(inch) (mm)

2.0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

50.8
1.5 - 95-100 100 - 90-100 95-100 90-100 - 95-100
37.5
1.0 70-95 60-80 75-90 80-100 - - - 75-95 -
25
3/4 - - 65-80 64-94 68-100 60-80* 50-85 - 70-92
19.5
½ - 40-60 55-70 - - 40-60* - - -
12.7
3/8 30-65 - 45-60 40-69 50-100 - - 40-75 50-70
9.53
No.4 25-55 25-40 31-46 31-54 38-90 25-40* 25-45 30-60 35-55
4.75
No. 10 2.0 15-40 15-30* 18-33 - 28.-60* 15-30* - 20-45 -

No.40 0.425 8-20 8-22* 5-18 - 14-30 8-22* 10-25* 15-30 12-25*

No. 200 0.75 2-8 0-8 2-9 4-7 7-20 0-8 2-9 5-20 0-8
 Comparison of Granular Sub-Base course
Gradation (Coarser grade)

AASHTO
Australia

German
Sieve Sieve

ASTM
China
K.S.A
India
NHA

BS
Sizes Sizes
(inch) (mm)

3 75 100 85-100 100

2.5 60 100 100
2.0 50.8 90-100 80-100 97-100 100 100
1.5 37.5 - - - 70-100 85-100 - 90-100
1.0 25 50-80 55-90* 65-79 -
3/4 19.5 - - - -
½ 12.7 - - 45-59 40-70* -
3/8 9.53 - 35-65 - 35-100 30-60
No.4 4.75 35-70 25-55 28-42 25-45* 25-55 30-60
No. 10 2.0 - 20-40* - 18-80* 15-40
No.40 0.425 - 10-25 9-17 4-45 8-22* 8-20
No. 200 0.75 2-8 3-10 4-8 0-25 0-10 2-8 0-12
 BS (a) BS (b) AASHTO © AASHTO (d) NHA (e) NHA (f)

100

90

80

70

60
%age Passing

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Seive Diameter (mm)

Base Course
 NHA (a) NHA (b) NESPAK © NESPAK (d)

100

90

80

70

60
%age Passing

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Seive Diameter (mm)

Pavement Design
Base Course
 BS (a) BS (b) AASHTO © AASHTO (d) NHA (e) NHA (f)

100

90

80

70

60
%age Passing

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Seive Diameter (mm)

Sub-Base
 NHA (a) NHA (b) NESPAK © NESPAK (d) MES (e) MES (f)

100

90

80

70

60
%age Passing

50

40

30

20

10

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

Seive Diameter (mm)

Pavement Design
Sub-Base
 Soil Compaction

Lab. Proctor
(γmax, o.m.c)
ASTM D698

Field Analysis (In-Place Density Tests):

1. Sand Cone Method (ASTM D-1556)
2. Drive Tube Method (ASTM D-2167)
3. Nuclear Method. (ASTM D-6938)

ASTM D1557

Relative compaction can be determined:

R (%) = (Density Field / Density Max) x 100
 Light Weight Deflctometer
Measures soil bearing capacity and compaction quality of soils,
non-cohesive sub-bases.

Total Weight 15.0 kg

Drop Weight 10.0 kg
max. impact force 7.07 kN
Duration of impact 17.0 ± 1,5 ms
Material zinc coated/hard-crome plated steel

ELWD =1.5 R σ /S
where,
ELWD = LWD deformation modulus, R = radius
of the loaded plate (300mm),
σ = stress under the loaded plate (0.1MN/M2),
s = mean settlement of the loaded plate.

ELWD =22.5/S

Mr = 22.98 (CIV)1.02
 Soil Compaction Methods
Sr. Method Advantage
No.
1 Impact Compaction Aggregate orientation and distribution are
(dropping a hammer) dissimilar to that achieved in field
AASHTO Designation: T-180). compaction.
2 Static Compaction The compaction characteristics and particle
orientation achieved by this method do not
reproduce field Compaction.

3 Kneading Compaction Sheep foot and rubber tired rollers apply

(AASHO T-173). similar loads with little or no impact,

4 Vibratory Compaction Successfully applied to the compaction of

dry cohesionless soils, primarily sands

5 Shear Gyratory Compaction The applied stress and time or number of

gyrations can be varied to achieve a desired
density at specific moisture
contents.
 METHODS OF COMPACTION USED IN THE FIELD
The choice of method will depend upon the soil
type, the maximum dry density required and
economic consideration. The commonly used
methods are
1. Tampers
2. Rollers
3. Vibratory compactors
Types of rollers
Smooth-wheel rollers
Pneumatic tyred rollers
Sheep foot rollers
Q&A