Proceedings of the XVI ECSMGE

Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development

ISBN 978-0-7277-6067-8

The authors and ICE Publishing: All rights reserved, 2015

doi:10.1680/ecsmge.60678

Evaluation of elastic modulus of fly ash embankment

by repeated load CBR test
valuation de module d'lasticit de cendres volantes remblai par
charge rpte essai CBR
S. Bhattacharjee*1 and K. Bandyopadhyay2
1
Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
2
Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
* Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT Development of mechanistic-empirical pavement design procedures and material specifications requires fundamental ma-
terial property data in order to characterize pavement responses. The basic principle of repeated load CBR testing is similar to convention-
al CBR testing method but repeated load is applied during a number of cycles until the steady state is reached. Conventional CBR testing
is used for empirical based design but repeated load CBR testing is used for mechanistic-empirical pavement design which is also a realis-
tic tool for indicating degraded properties of embankment material. At repeated load CBR test for different degree of compaction, elastic
modulus is determined on a quick and simple way considering plunger load is dispersed over the height of CBR mould with the dispersion
angle of 45o. The stress under the plunger is the main important criteria which are compared with load bearing capacity or ability to sup-
port foundation of embankment fill without suffering detrimental long term settlement. In this study repeated load CBR test is performed
by taking core from model fly ash embankment in tank at different degree of compaction for maximum dry density and optimum moisture
content levels. The test is conducted until a penetration of 2.5 mm is obtained. After that the sample is unloaded until the load is zero and
reloaded again until the load that is needed to obtain the 2.5mm penetration. This sequence is applied a number of times until the elastic
deformation reaches a constant value.

RSUM Dveloppement des mcaniste - empirique des procdures de conception des chausses et les spcifications matrielles de-
mande pour les proprits fondamentales des matriaux afin de caractriser les rponses de la chausse . Le principe de base de tests
rpts charge de CBR est similaire la mthode d'essai CBR classique mais charge rpte est applique pendant un certain nombre de
cycles jusqu' ce que l'tat d'quilibre est atteint . Essais CBR classique est utilis pour la conception base empirique, mais les tests de la
RBC de charge rpte est utilise pour la conception des chausses mcaniste - empirique qui est aussi un outil raliste pour indiquer des
proprits dgrades du matriau remblai . Au rpte essai CBR de charge pour diffrents degrs de compactage , module d'lasticit est
dtermin sur une voie compte tenu de la charge de piston simple et rapide est dispers sur toute la hauteur du moule CBR avec l'angle de
dispersion de 45 . Le stress sous le piston est les principaux critres importants qui sont compars avec une capacit de charge ou capa-
cit soutenir la fondation de remplissage remblai sans souffrir rglement prjudiciable long terme . Dans cet essai, la charge de CBR
tude rpte est effectue en prenant noyau de modle cendres volantes remblai dans le rservoir au degr de compactage diffrent pour
la densit sche maximum et des niveaux de taux d'humidit optimales . L'essai est effectu jusqu' une pntration de 2,5 mm est obtenue
. Aprs que l'chantillon est dcharg jusqu' ce que la charge est gale zro et recharg nouveau jusqu' ce que la charge qui est nces-
saire pour obtenir la pntration de 2,5 mm . Cette squence est applique un certain nombre de fois jusqu' ce que la dformation lasti-
que atteint une valeur constante .

1 INTRODUCTION al will perform adequately in a certain application.

Testing under laboratory conditions was not ideal, in
terms of being directly representative of a materials
field behaviour but it is required to give confidence
(in absence of case study data sets) that a materi-
Despite major advances in construction procedures
and development of sophisticated analytical tools
for design method, a gap still exists between actual
material behaviours and theory. Many countries,
particularly developing countries still rely on empir-

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Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development
ical methods. The disadvantage of an empirical me-
thod is that it can be applied only to a given set of
environment, material and loading conditions. If
these conditions are changed, the design is no longer
valid and a new method must be developed through
trial and error to conform to the new condition.
Therefore for developing countries like India, the
most appropriate laboratory characterization tech-
nique for fly ash material is the repeated load CBR
test, which should be evaluated as a substitute for
the repeated load triaxial test in terms of provision
of reasonable estimates of mechanical parameters
according to the simplicity, availability and afforda-
bility criterion. In this way the overall practical im-
plications of the research are conducted.
2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this research is to identify a
relatively simple test (Repeated load CBR test)
which is capable of estimating the required mechan-
ical properties for input into analytical design. The
practical accessibility for characterization of me-
chanical behaviour for embankment material can
therefore be enhanced through repeated load CBR
test. Repeated load CBR test was performed to esti-
mate mainly the equivalent elastic modulus by in-
vestigating permanent deformation of fly ash ma-
terial used in embankment.
3 LITERATURE REVIEW
A review of the available literature showed a gap
between the relatively fundamental research tests
and a simplified approach that could provide a rou-
tine design input for the road industry. Therefore
development of a simplified laboratory test capable
of estimating mechanical properties was needed for
embankment material. Hight & Stevens (1982) con-
sidered the full load penetration curve which was
used to improve the estimate of stiffness. Loach
(1987) carried out some repeated load CBR tests on
overconsolidated silty clay. Initial slopes of the
load-penetration curves, whether in the first cycle or
subsequently, correlated with CBR. Loach noted
that there was experimental difficulty in obtaining
230
accurate values of penetration. Molenaar (2008)
concluded that repeated load CBR test is a simple
and quick test to obtain good estimates of an effec-
tive elastic modulus (Eeff) in cases where repeated
load triaxial data are not available. Molenaar also
compared (Eeff) determined by means of repeated
load CBR test and the resilient modulus (Mr) ob-
tained from repeated load triaxial test. Opiyo (1995)
has developed empirical equations to estimate the
effective elastic modulus (Eeff) from the applied
stress under the plunger and the measured vertical
deformation in the final load application. Opiyo de-
rived two methods to compute the modulus (Eeff): an
approximate solution and a solution based on finite
element analysis. In this study only approximate so-
lution is followed. For the approximate solution an
assumption is made by Opiyo about how the load is
spread over the height of the CBR sample. In that
case an estimate has to be made about the angle of
spreading, Figure1. Opiyo described that elastic
deformation occurs in two parts of the specimen: a
conical and a cylindrical part shown in Figure 1.
F
d
Conical part H
L
cylindrical part
D
Figure 1. Conical and cylindrical deformation parts
in the approximate solution of the CBR test
Where, d = plunger diameter=49.63mm.
H = height of the conical part = 50 tan 45o
= 50mm.
Eeff = material elastic modulus (MPa)
D = diameter of the CBR mould =150mm
L = height of specimen =175mm

The total deformation is therefore taken as the
sum of elastic deformation from the two parts which
are shown below:
Eeff = {od/uD}[ H + d(L-H)/D]
Substituting the values of the variables from
above,
Eeff = 30.56{o/u}
Where, o = maximum plunger stress (MPa)
u = elastic deformation (mm)
Araya (2011) concluded that curve for elastic
modulus from repeated load CBR test and modulus
from repeated load triaxial test differed only neglig-
ibly.
4 PRINCIPLE OF REPEATED LOAD CBR
TEST
The principle of repeated load CBR test is similar to
the standard CBR test but repeated loads are applied
upon multiple repetitions of the same magnitude of
loading until a stabilized state was reached. All
strain under a load application is recoverable. The
permanent (plastic) strain becomes negligible and
the material behaves basically elastic that is stable
recoverable deformation. From the applied stress
and the measured recoverable strain, an elastic
modulus was estimated.
5 METHODOLOGY
In this research repeated load CBR tests were per-
formed in Jadavpur university laboratory, Kolkata,
India on fly ash embankment material by taking
cores from model embankment prepared in a tank at
different conditions. Repeated load CBR is a simple
method of testing which is developed for character-
ize the mechanical behavior of the specimen. The
effect of influence factors such as moisture content,
degree of compaction, type of specimen was inves-
tigated. Moisture content is more important factor
compared to factors affecting by degree of compac-
tion.
In this work the source of fly ash used in labora-
tory was procured from Farakka Thermal Power sta-
tion, West Bengal, India. The test programme was
carried out by following steps:
Bhattacharjee and Bandyopadhyay
Maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum
moisture content (OMC) were found out from
both modified and standard proctor energy level
at 100 mm diameter (1000cc volume) mould as
per IS:2720 (Part 8) and IS:2720 (Part 7) respec-
tively.
Air dried fly ash sample was taken at required
quantity predetermined from the volume of tank
for each layer and maximum dry density ob-
tained from particular energy level of proctor
compaction to achieve a target degree of com-
paction.
Moisture content of the bulk material was pre-
determined and the required quantity of water
was added to bring the material to the required
level of optimum moisture content for that par-
ticular energy level of proctor compaction.
The chosen degree of compaction for preparation
of embankment in tank was 100 and 97 percent of
proctor density for modified and standard energy
level. Mixing was done in a mechanical mixer. Tank
is divided three equal segmental parts according to
the height and an additional free board of 25mm is
maintained. Therefore the specimen was compacted
in three equal layers. The mixed sample was poured
into each layer and compacted to the required densi-
ty. The compacted layer thickness was controlled by
measuring the level of compaction head with respect
to top of each segment of tank. Same procedure was
followed for the remaining two layers. The surface
of each layer was mechanically scarified before add-
ing the next layer on top to obtain a good layer inter-
lock and a homogeneous sample.
Repeated load CBR test was carried out at con-
ventional CBR testing equipment and moulds used
as per Indian standards, IS:2720 (Part 16). This was
a displacement control test using a displacement rate
1.25mm/min. For each test three numbers of undis-
turbed specimens were collected by fitting with cut-
ting edge of 150 mm internal diameter to the CBR
mould and pushed each mould as gently as possible
into the compacted fly ash embankment bed pre-
pared in tank. After completion of pushing sample
was filled up into each mould, it was taken out and
the cutter was removed and mould was weighed and
specimen was collected for moisture checking. The
collar was fitted on the mould and placed into CBR
testing machine. Loading of the specimen was ob-
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 Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development

tained by pushing the button plunger down on the
control unit. Normally the load level was restricted
until a 2.5 mm penetration was obtained. Then the
test was stopped and unloading was obtained by
pushing the plunger up button until the load was
zero and then reloaded again for next loading cycle
until the load gave a penetration of 2.5mm.It im-
plied that rate of unloading was the same as the rate
of loading. This sequence was applied for ten of
cycles when elastic deformation reached a constant
value. The load level was restricted to an initial 2.5
mm penetration to avoid excessive permanent de-
formation during the repeated load cycles applied
after the first load cycle to determine the CBR Mo-
lenaar (2008).
Elastic modulus was calculated from the elastic
deformation based on assumption described by
Opiyo (1995) that was stated in literature review. In
that assumption angle of load spreading over the
height of the CBR sample was considered 45o.
crease of density and energy level of proctor com-
paction. Similarly it was expressed from Table1 that
when optimum moisture content was increased from
36 to 45 percent, both CBR values and elastic mod-
ulus decreased.CBR values and effective elastic
modulus both were decreased when degree of com-
paction was decreased from 100 to 97 percent. Max-
imum plunger stress followed similar trend as that
of CBR and elastic modulus (Figure 4).It was also
observed from Table 1 and Figure 5 that elastic de-
formation increased with decrease of density and
degree of compaction. Figure 6 shows that elastic
modulus increased with the CBR value due to in-
crease of strength and stiffness. Figure 7 shows typ-
ical load penetration curves for different cycles.
Peak load for different cycles shows an increasing
trend which might be due to strain hardening effect.

6 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Maximum dry densities and optimum moisture con-

tents were obtained as 11.45kN/m3 and 36% at mod-
ified (heavy) compaction energy level and
9.75kN/m3 and 45% at standard (light) proctor ener-
gy level respectively. It was observed from Table1
and Figures 2 and 3 that CBR values and effective
elastic modulus both were decreased when density Figure 2. CBR at different degree of compaction for
was decreased from11.45 to 9.75kN/m3 at 100 per- different density level.
cent degree of compaction. It happened due to de-

Table 1. Different properties under different conditions from Repeated CBR test.
Maxi- Elastic
mum Defor- Elastic
Sl. CBR
Description Designation Plunger mation Modulus
No (%)
Stress (u)(mm) (Eeff)
(o)(MPa) (MPa)
1 MDD=11.45KN/m3,OMC=36%at 100% MDD 100% of 11.45 19 1.421 0.46 94
3
2 MDD=11.45KN/m ,OMC=36%at 97% MDD 97% of 11.45 16 1.318 0.51 79
3 MDD= 9.75KN/m3,OMC=45%at 100% MDD 100% of 9.75 13 1.273 0.54 72
4 MDD=9.75KN/m3,OMC=45%at 97% MDD 97% of 9.75 12 1.192 0.59 62

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 Bhattacharjee and Bandyopadhyay

Figure 3. Elastic modulus at different degree of Figure 5. Elastic deformation at different degree
compaction for different density level. of compaction for different density level.

Figure 4. Maximum plunger stress at different de- Figure 6. CBR versus Elastic modulus at different
gree of compaction for different density level. degree of compaction for different density level.

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Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development
Figure 7. Typical load penetration curve for dif-
ferent load cycles.
7 CONCLUSIONS
This study concludes that elastic modulus de-
creased with decrease of density and degree of
compaction and increase of optimum moisture
content. From the present investigation it is also
revealed that elastic modulus of fly ash embank-
ment increases with increasing CBR values. But
this increase is not linear rather non linear showing
more increasing trend against higher CBR values.
With regard to the repeated CBR test, it is found
that load versus penetration curves show conti-
nuously increasing trend. On reversal of the load
and subsequent reloading shows increase in values
of the peak load which is due to strain hardening
effect but generally failure becomes imminent due
to fatigue stress. In such cases fatigue failure be-
234
comes dominating criteria for failure of road
pavement.
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