Você está na página 1de 22

1

SUBGRADE
SOIL

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SUBGRADE SOILS
2

y The sub-grade is the undermost layer of a pavement


and as such is one of the main concerns of a
pavement design.
y Many pavement failures could be traced to
insufficient consideration given to the natural sub-
grade material, especially in the case of problematic
soils,
il the
h ididentification
ifi i off which
hi h iis off paramount
importance and half the solution towards the
mitigation measures.
y All these materials exhibit a stress dependent
behavior implying that both the stiffness and the
shear
h strength
h iincrease with
i h iincreasing
i confinement.
fi
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
SUBGRADE SOILS
3

y Soil is the most important


p foundation and
construction material for pavement structures.
{ Foundation material for all pavements as undisturbed in
situ
i sub b grade
d material
i l or transported
d andd reworked
k d
embankment material
{ Construction material for pavement structures either in
its natural form (sand and gravel) or in a processed form
as stabilized layer.
y Soill investigation is, thus,
h an integrall part off the
h
location, design and construction of highways.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


Soil Surveys and Investigations
4

y Along
g with traffic and economic criteria,, the design
g
of a road and of a road’s pavement in particular, is
based on the surface and sub soils conditions, and
th characteristics
the h t i ti and d quality
lit off construction
t ti
materials used.
y Soil survey for highway purposes involve the
exploration of the soils along the highway routes and
the identification of suitable soils for use as sub base
and fill materials.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


Soil Surveys and Investigations
5

y The results of soil investigation provide pertinent


information about soil and rock for a decision on one
or more of the following subjects
{ Selection of roadway alignment
{ Decision of the need for sub grade or embankment foundation
treatment
{ Investigation of slope stability in cuts and embankments
{ Location and design of ditches and culverts
{ Selection and design of the roadway pavement
{ Location and evaluation of suitable borrow and construction
materials, and
{ Design of foundations for bridges and other structures

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


Soil Surveys and Investigations
6

y In selecting the alignment of a new highway the first step


is normally to define a number of conceivable corridors
between the start and terminus of the road.
y The
Th nextt step
t isi tto select
l t th
the best
b t corridor
id ffor th
the
proposed road and define within it one or more different
alignments.
g
y These alignments are compared, and a final selection is
made for design purposes.
y The process involves continuous searching and selecting,
using increasingly more detailed knowledge of sub-grade
soils at each decision
decision-making
making stage.
stage

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


Soil Surveys and Investigations
7

y Before a field investigation is carried out at the site, preliminary


iinformation
f i regarding
di soil il condition
di i can often
f b
be obtained
b i d ffrom
i. Geological and agricultural soil maps. These often indicate
the types of soil or geological formation that cover the area
ii. Aerial photographs. Terrain information visible on air photos
can be used for identification of most of the common bedrock types
associated residual soils, transported soils, and organic soils.
iii. Satellite images. Satellite images are employed as a supplemental
to air photos or as a substitute for air photos.
iv. Area reconnaissance. Reconnaissance survey aids in securing
broad understanding of soil conditions and associated engineering
problems that may be encountered.
v. The visual examination of vegetation cover, roadway cuts, and
valleys in the area can give clue. The depth of water level in adjacent
wells may indicate the elevation of the groundwater table.
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
Soil Surveys and Investigations
8

y Field investigations and sample collection for laboratory tests are


commonly
l carried
i d outt b
by th
the ffollowing
ll i ffour methods.
th d
{ Geophysical methods (seismic or electrical). Seismic refraction
method relies on the principle that velocity of sound in soils and rocks
i different
is diff t for
f different
diff t materials.
t i l It iis particularly
ti l l usefulf l iin predicting
di ti
the depth to bedrock. The electrical resistivity mainly depends on the
content of clay minerals, moisture content, and type and concentration
of electrolyte in the soil-water.
soil water An increasing content of clay,
clay water or
electrolyte causes decreasing the resistivity of soils.
{ Test pits or trenches: suitable for shallow depths only to sample
soils and rocks and register soil profiles.
profiles
{ Hand augers: suitable for shallow depths only to obtain disturbed or
mixed samples of soils.
{ B i
Boring test
t t holes
h l and d sampling
li with
ith d
drill
ill rigs:
i th principal
the i i l
method for detailed soils investigations.
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
Depth of investigations
9

y The design depth is defined as the depth from the


finished road level to the depth that the load bearing
strength of the soil no longer has an effect on the
pavement’s performance in relation to traffic loading.
y Properties
P ti off soil
il b
below
l the
th design
d i d depth
th may iindirectly
di tl
affect pavement performance, but are generally unrelated
to traffic loading.
y The
Th depth
d th off ttestt pits
it anddbborings
i should
h ld ini no case b
be
less than 1.5m below the proposed sub grade level unless
rock material is encountered.
y A preliminary
li i vertical
ti l alignment
li t may bbe required
i d att th
the
time of the soil survey in order to ensure that soil
samples are actually taken at levels that fall within the
design depth of the road.
road
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
Depth of investigations
10

y For ordinary work, it is quite sufficient to go to a depth of


about
b 3m bbelow
l the
h proposed d ffoundation
d i llevell iin areas off
cut and 3m below the existing ground in areas of fill
investigations
g in cuttings
g deeper
p than 3m could be
impractical and special equipment may have to be
required.
y If possible,
possible postponement of sampling until the time of
construction should be considered under such
conditions.
y Evaluation
E l ti off sub b graded strength
t th iin embankment
b k t areas
should be based on the best possible information about
likely sources of fill materials for use within the design
d h
depth.
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
11

y Common investigations should cover basic data collection,


such as depth and nature of soils (subgrade and embankment
materials), and should be limited to test pits and hand augers.
y Once the alignment of a new road is finalized, investigations
for soil sampling along the alignment can be initiated.
initiated The
frequency of sampling depends on the field conditions.
y As a standard guideline, at least one representative soil
sample
p should be collected p per kilometer of the pproposed
p
roadway alignment, with more frequent samples where there
are significant changes in soil type.
y Significant changes are those which affect the general
classification
l ifi i off the h soils
il as wellll as their
h i bbearing
i strength h
(CBR).
y The sampling location may be alternatively on the left and
right edge of the proposed roadway.
roadway

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
12

y Table 4-1 gives a recommended sampling frequency and the


corresponding tests which may be altered depending on the
variations in soil types along the alignment.
y Spacing in specific locales may be increased where the
subgrade exhibits a fair degree of homogeneity, and
conversely be decreased where variations become evident, or
when problem soils or design problems are encountered.
encountered
Table 4-1 Design depth (Tanzania pavement Design manual, 1999)

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
13

y The recommended approximate quantity (mass) of sample


required
i d may beb determined
d t i db by verifying
if i th the ttests
t required
i d
and referring to Table 4-2 below.
y It is simpler, and generally preferable, to retrieve in the field
eachh samplel llarge enoughh to conduct
d all
ll required
i d tests iin the
h
laboratory.
y This allows for a better selection of representative
p samples
p in
the laboratory prior to compaction and CBR testing.
y If logistics preclude the taking and transportation of large
quantities of samples,
q p , careful examination of the soils in the
field must be conducted and judgment must be exercised to
select truly representative samples for compaction and CBR
testing.
g

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
14

y Table 4-2: Minimum Mass of Sample Required (Soils and Gravels)

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
15

y For the purpose of taking representative samples, pits shall be


dug mostly in anticipated cut areas (since these cuts will
expose the subgrade support of the future pavement and
provide embankment materials), if possible down to at least
30 cm below the expected
3 p subgrade
g level.
y Further, in the case of a new alignment, the depth of any pit
should in no case be less than 1.5 m unless rock or other
material impossible to excavate by hand is encountered.
y The position (in plan and elevation) of each test pit must be
accurately determined and recorded.
y This implies that geotechnical and topographical tasks must
b coordinated
be di d in
i the
h field.
fi ld IIn every test pit,
i all
ll llayers,
including topsoil, shall be accurately described and their
thicknesses measured.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


SAMPLING AND FREQUENCY
16

y All layers of more than 30 cm (except topsoil) shall be


sampled.
l d Thi
This will
ill promotet a proper assessmentt off th
the b
bulk
lk off
the materials excavated in cuts and to be used in
embankments.
y Care shall
h ll b
be taken,
k when
h retrieving
i i samples, l to secure andd
preserve a small but sufficient quantity of soil for the purpose
of measuring the moisture content in the laboratory.
y Measuring the in-situ moisture content is particularly
desirable at the anticipated subgrade level.
y The logg of each test ppit shall be accuratelyy drawn and included
in the Soils and Materials Report.
y Photographs should also be taken of the test pit location, as
well of the soils horizons in the test pit which will help for
reporting the investigations and interpreting the results.
HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil
RECOMMENDED TESTS ON SOIL SAMPLES
17

y For new road alignments,


g , the following
g tests shall
normally be conducted, as a minimum, on the
collected soil samples:
{ Grain Size Analysis
l ((AASHTO T88))
{ Atterberg Limits (AASHTO T89, T90)
{ Moisture Content (AASHTO T265)
{ Compaction Test (AASHTO T180)
{ CBR and Swell (AASHTO T193)

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


RECOMMENDED TESTS ON SOIL SAMPLES
18

y The compaction test requires preparation of at least four (preferably


five) molds for compaction and at least one mold for CBR.
CBR
y The CBR shall normally be measured after four days of soaking,
except in arid areas (annual rainfall less than 500 mm).
y In arid areas,, the CBR mayy be measured at OMC (optimum
( p
moisture content) or after a reduced soaking period, depending on
the equilibrium moisture content predicted under the pavement in
the area (see ERA Pavement Design Manual - 2002).
y The compaction tests shall be conducted on samples compacted to
95% of the MDD achieved by AASHTO Test Method T180.
y The CBR tests shall be conducted at three levels (normally 90%,
95%, and 100%) of compaction,
p and at each level, two conditions of
moisture.
y This procedure is to determine design CBR and to know the effect of
the relative compaction and moisture.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBGRADE SOILS
19

y The results from the above testing, combined with the


relevant field observations
observations, will enable a classification of
the subgrade soils to be made.
y A category of soil should include the soils of the same
t
type having
h i ffairly
i l consistent
i t t geotechnical
t h i l characteristics
h t i ti
(Grading, Atterberg Limits, Compaction and particularly
CBR).
y A soilil map should
h ld b be prepared
d iindicating
di ti th the area li
limits
it
of each soil type.
y It is advisable to avoid introducing short sections along
th alignment
the li t with
ith numerous changes
h iin th
the soil
il
categories as this can make the construction operations
overly complicated.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBGRADE SOILS
20

y For pavement design, the road sections must be defined in


accordance with subgrade strength classes, as follows
y Table 4-3: Subgrade Strength Class vs. CBRs

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBGRADE SOILS
21

y Almost all types of soil, ranging from sandy clays through to


broken rock,
rock can be used for embankment construction and
pavement support, the main limitation being the ease with
which the material can be handled and compacted. However,
materials with CBRs less than 2 are usuallyy veryy difficult to
work and, as subgrade, would lead to uneconomical pavement
structures. Such soils, except if unavoidable, are usually
considered unsuitable. If they must be used, they must be
covered by select subgrade materials or capping layers.
layers
y The ERA Pavement Design Manual - 2002 also gives
guidance regarding estimated subgrade strength classes
depending on the plasticity of soils and the depth of the water
table. This estimated correlation can usefully be referred to as
a means to ascertain the results of the above tests.

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil


22

THANK YOU

HIGHWAY II - Subgrade Soil

Você também pode gostar