CORRELATION BETWEEN MODULUS OF RESILIENCE AND CBR VALUE OF TRISHULI RIVER SAND

Er. Ram Kumar Shrestha

ramkumar@ioe.edu.np Enginer Government of Nepal Department of Water Supply and Sewerage

Abstract: The objective of this research is to develop empirical correlations between Resilient Modulus (MR) and california bearing ratio (CBR) of cohesionless soil. For this purpose, laboratory test was conducted on Trishuli River sand. The various literatures have shown that the Resilient Modulus test was conducted on clayey soil. Very limited information on Resilient Modulus of sandy soil has seen in the literature. Therefore, an attempt has been made to find the Resilient Modulus and CBR rating of the sand at different relative densities and also attempted to correlate the findings of a laboratory measurement of Resilient Modulus and to its CBR rating. Specimens are prepared at the relative densities ranging from loose to dense state.

INTRODUCTION
One of the most commonly used parameters that describe the soil stiffness is the Resilient Modulus. The concept of Resilient Modulus (MR) was initially introduced by seed et al. (1962) for characterizing the elastic response of subgrade soil. It is defined as the ratio of the repeatedly applied load stress to the recoverable strain determined after repeated loading. MR = (1-3)/ r Where, MR = Resilient Modulus, (1-3) = maximum repeated axial Stress and r = resilient strain (recoverable axial strain)

Figure 1 Strain in granular material during one cycle of loading

Figure 2 CBR test at lab

Figure 1 indicates typical strain recorded one cycle of loading. It can be seen that both elastic and plastic deformations occur at the initial stage of load application. As the number of load application increases, the amount of plastic deformation decreases until a stage where the deformation is practically all recoverable. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) rating was developed by the California division of highway around 1929. This test provides an indirect measure of shear strength of soil. The CBR number (or, simply the, CBR) is obtained as the ratio of the unit stress required to effect a certain depth of penetration of a compacted specimen of soil to the unit stress required to obtain the same depth of penetration on a standard sample of crushed stone. In equation form, CBR = *100 (%)

The AASHTO design guide suggests that the resilient modulus of fined grained soil can be estimated that (Heuklelom and Klomp, 1962): MR = 1500*CBR (psi) South African Council on Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) MR (psi) = 3000*CBR 0.65 Transportation and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) MR (psi) = 2,555*CBR 0.64 In addition, it is also known that the resilient modulus is dependent on the applied stress level (Rada and Witczak 1981). For most fine grained soil, MR decrease with increasing deviatoric stress level.

TEST RESULTS AND FINDINGS

The test program was carried out on sand taken from Trishuli River near Belkhu, Dhading district. The cyclic Odeometer test and CBR test is carried out at different relative densities. Direct shear is also done to study the behaviour of shearing angle according to relative densities. Figure 3 shows the grain size analysis data of Trishuli River sand. The soil can be described as uniform sand according to the USCS. The specific gravity of the soil was equal to 2.675.
Figure 2 Grin size analysis data of Trishuli River Sand

The cyclic Odeometer test and CBR test was conducted in laboratory on this samle using conventional ASTM standard test method. The testing program was conducted on air dried sample. This procedure deviates from the conventional CBR testing procedure in which the tests are conducted only at optimum moisture contents. Direct shear test is carried out to study the variation of shearing angle according to the relative density. It was observed that the shearing angle () increases with the increase in relative density. The value of shearing angle varies from 34 to 35.5. Then variation of shear angle with relative density is shown in figure 4. Table 1 variation of according to Dr
Relative Density (Dr) 30% 45% 60% 75% 85% Shearing Angle() 34.0 34.2 34.5 35.0 35.5

Figure 3 Variation of Shear angle with Dr

The samples are compacted according to relative densities in the cyclic Odeometer mould and repeated load is applied. The stress-strain curve from Odeometer test at different relative densities was obtained and the test was conducted on 30, 45, 60, 75 and 85% relative densities. Figure 5 and 6 shows the stress-strain curve at Dr 30 & 85% and figure 7 presents the changes of void ration according with the densities. It is shown that as the relative density increases, the hysteretic loop is closed at lesser strain.

Figure 4 Stress strain curve at Dr 30%

Figure 6 stress strain curve at Dr 85%

The void ratio decreases as the relative density increase. And the void ratio decreases as the no of cycle increases. The void ratio varies from 0.87 to 0.63 at first cycle of every relative density. It has been observed that the void ratio is decreased as the increase in relative density and the void ratio also decreases as the number of cycle increases. It is the result of the increase in compactness of the sand sample as the increase in relative
Figure 7 Void ratios vs. logp at different cycles density and number of cycles.

CBR test carried out at different relative densities. Is has been seen that the CBR value is increased as the relative density increases. It can be said that The harder the surface, the higher the CBR rating.

Figure 8 CBR graph at different relative densities

The value of resilient of modulus is calculated and the value is found between 300 to 672 kg/cm2. It has been observed that MR increases as the relative density increases. Similarly the MR increases as the number of loading cycle increases.

Figure 9 Variation of MR according to Dr and No. of cycle

Relation between resilient of modulus, relative density and number of cycle is developed. The relation for Trishuli River sand is found that: MR (kg/cm2) = 26N+388Dr + 163 Where, MR = Resilient Modulus Dr = relative density (in decimal)
N = no. Of cycle Table 2 Summary value of the lab test results

S.N.

Relative Density (%) 30 45 60 75 85

Shearing Angle () 34.0 34.2 34.5 35.0 35.5

Resilient Modulus (MR) in kg/cm2 354.24 442.38 500.11 536.18 578.35

CBR value

1 2 3 4 5

3 8 16 28 39

Correlation between resilient modulus and CBR value is also developed. MR (psi) = 4179* CBR 0.185

Figure 10. MR vs. CBR Conclusion

Based on the results presented, the following conclusions are drawn 1. The correlations that are developed and validated are based on the result of the experimental testing program at lab. 2. It has been found that, as the relative density increases, shearing angle increases and the value of MR and CBR also increases. 3. Correlation equation between MR and CBR is developed comparing the values at same relative density.
Recommendation

1. Further studies can be done mixing different proportion of fine particles with sand. 2. It is further recommended that the relationship can be verified with high stress level and number of cycle and CNR test can be carried out at wet condition.
References 1. Allen Marr & Robert Whiteman, Permanent displacement of sand with cyclic loading, a part of the Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 110, No 11, November, 1984. 2. Beena Sukumaran, Suitability of CBR test to predict Resilience Modulus, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowana University, 2005 3. Bixian Ni, Beckham & Sun, Resilient Modulus of Kentucky Soils, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 2004 4. Bojan Guzina, Peter Davich & Joseph Labuz, Small strain and Resilient Modulus testing of Granular soils, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2004 5. Bowles, Joseph E., Engineering Properties of Soil and Their Measurement, Mc Graw Hill, Singapore, 1992 6. Gupta Anand, One Dimensional Compressibility, Shear Strength and Permeability Characteristics of Bagmati Sand and Ottawa sand, Masters Thesis, Institute Of Engineering, TU, Nepal 2009. 7. Lambe and Whitman, Soil Mechanics, Wiley Eastern Limited, USA, 1979