Study of LTPP laboratory resilient modulus test data and response characteristics.

2002Final report; June 2000-Oct. 2001PDFTech ReportFHWA-RD-02-051;3032.1DTFH61-95-C-00028Flexible pavementsAsphalt concrete pavementsModulus of resilienceAsphalt testsTesting equipmentTest proceduresFlexural strengthPavement componentsLoad testsCone penetrometersSubgrade (Pavements)SoilsResilient modulusLTPPUnited StatesTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterYau, AmberVon Quintus, Harold L.Fugro-BRE, Inc.United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure Research and DevelopmentNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Construction and MaintenanceNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-DesignNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceFederal Highway AdministrationThe resilient modulus of every unbound structural layer of the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Specific Pavement andGeneral Pavement Studies Test Sections is being measured in the laboratory using LTPP test protocol P46. A total of 2,014resilient modulus tests have passed all quality control checks and are included in the LTPP database with a Level E data status. Asof October 2000, there were 1,639 resilient modulus tests yet to be performed. In some cases, these missing tests may have beenperformed, but did not achieve a Level E status (did not pass all quality control checks) in the LTPP database. However, these testresults have not been evaluated in detail. This report documents the first comprehensive review and evaluation of the resilientmodulus test data measured on pavement materials and soils recovered from the LTPP test sections.The resilient modulus data were reviewed in detail to identify anomalies or potential errors in the database. From this review, atotal of 185 resilient modulus tests were identified with possible problems or data entry errors. These tests were reported toFHWA for further review andlor retesting. The resilient modulus test data were found generally to be in excellent condition withless than 10 percent of the tests exhibiting potential anomalies or discrepancies in the data.The resilient modulus test data were then studied for the effect of test variables, such as the test and sampling procedures, on theresulting resilient moduli. These data were analyzed by material code for the base and subbase aggregate layers and by soil typefor the subgrade. Sampling technique (auger versus test pit) was found to have the most effect on the crushed stone aggregate ELliduncrushed gravel base materials. For the subgrade soils, sampling technique (Shelby tubes versus auger samples) had the mosteffect on the clay soils. Sampling technique was found to have little to no effect on the sand basehubbase materials and sand soils.The resilient modulus data were further investigated to evaluate relationships between resilient modulus and the physicalproperties of the unbound materials and soils. Using nonlinear regression optimization techniques, equations for each base andsoil type were developed to calculate the resilient modulus at a specific stress state from physical properties of the base materialsand soils. The primary result from these studies is that the resilient modulus can be reasonably predicted from the physicalproperties included in the LTPP database, but there is a bias present in the calculated values. Thus, until additional test resultsbecome available to improve or confirm these relationships, it is recommended that at least some laboratory tests be performed tomeasure the resilient modulus for unbound pavement materials and soils