SUBGRADE MODULUS

Content

1. Intoduction
2. Scope
3.Method of determination
4. Factor effecting k
References

Introduction

It is defined as the (contact) bearing pressure of

the foundation against the soil that will produce a
unit deflection of the foundation.
Modulus of subgrade reaction is the reaction
pressure sustained by the soil sample under a rigid
plate of standard diameter per unit settlement
measured at a specified pressure or settlement
The use of the parameter implies a linear elastic
response, and therefore in design the pressure
generated by the subgrade modulus is always
limited by the allowable bearing pressure of the
soil.

In practice, the parameter is often

recommended by the Geotechnical
Engineer and used by the Structural
Engineer for analysis of the structure. The
structural analysis is not only used to
gain insight into the settlement of the
structure, but also provides consideration
of settlement-induced stresses within the
structure.

IRC specifies that the K value be measured at

1.25 mm settlement.
To calculate the Modulus of Subgrade Reaction,
Plate Bearing Test is conducted.
In this a compressive stress is applied to the
soil pavement layer through rigid plates of
relatively large size and the deflections are
measured for various stress values.
The exact load deflection behavior of the soil
or the pavement layer in-situ for static loads is
obtained by the plate bearing test.

Plate Bearing Test(IS 9214

1979)
Apparatus
Bearing Plates: Consist of mild steel 75 cm
in diameter and 0.5 to 2.5 cm thickness and
few
other plates of smaller diameters (usually 60,
45, 30 and 22.5 cm) used as stiffeners.
Loading Equipment: Consists of a reaction
frame and a hydraulic jack. The reaction
frame
may suitably be loaded to give the needed

.
plate

reaction load on the

Settlement Measurement: Three or

four
dial gauges fixed on the periphery of the
bearing plate. The datum frame should
be
supplied far from the loading area.

Procedure
Prepare the test site and remove the loose
material so that 75 cm diameter plate rests
horizontally in full contact with the soil sub-grade.
Place the plate accurately and then apply a
seating
load equivalent to a pressure of 0.07 kg/cm2
and
release it after few seconds.
The settlement dial readings are adjusted to zero
for zero load.

Procedure (Contd)
A load is applied by means of the jack, sufficient to
cause an average settlement of about 0.25 mm.When
there is no perceptible increase in settlement or when
the rate of settlement is less than 0.025 mm per
minute, the load dial reading and the settlement dial
readings are noted.
The average of the three or four settlement dial
readings is taken as the average settlement of the
plate corresponding to the applied load.

The load is increased till the average

settlement increased to a further amount

of
about 0.25 mm and the load and the
average
settlement readings are noted as before.

The procedure is repeated until the

settlement is about 1.75 mm.

Factor effecting k

In this study, effective parameters on

modulus of subgrade reaction in clayey
soils. The studied parameters include:
1. Size effect of foundation
2. Effect of foundation's shape
3. Effect of depth of foundation
4. Effect of rigidity of foundation

The Subgrade Modulus is not a soil property but It is

a function of the following:
1. Soil elastic properties: Modulus of Elasticity, E ,
and Poissons Ratio, .
2. Foundation plan dimensions: Length, L, and
Width, B.
3. Foundation stiffness: Modulus of Elasticity, E ,
and Moment of Inertia, I .
4. Other indirect factors: Compressible soil layer
thickness, H , and depth of foundation below
ground
surface, D.

Size effect of foundation on Ks

The Terzaghi's equation for estimating

the modulus of subgrade reaction with
plate load test results is:

Ksis subgrade reaction modulus for

prototype foundation, Ks1is subgrade
reaction modulus based on plate load
test results and B is the side dimension of
foundation.

Decreasing of Kswith side

dimension of foundation

Consistency effect of clayey soil

on Ksvalues

Modification coefficient

Effect of foundations shape on

Ks

Terzaghis equation, for estimating the

modulus of subgrade reaction of
rectangular foundation based on plate
load test results, is:

m is the side dimensions ratio of rectangle

foundation (B/L).

Embedment depth effect of

foundation on Ks

the best fit for correlation between

modulus of subgrade reaction in surface
(Ks0) and in depth (Ksd)

where, q0is load intensity in surface (kN

m-2), D is depth in meter and is the unit
weight of the soil in (kN m-3).

Rigidity effect of foundation on

K s

REFERENCE
IS code 9214- 1979
Subgrade Modulus Revisited
Dec, 2014 By George Aristorenas, Ph.D.,
P.E. and
Jess Gmez, P.E., D.GE In
Articles, Structural
Design.