Correlating Nonlinear Parameters of Resilient Modulus Models for Unbound Geomaterials

AbstractCharacteristics of unbound aggregate pavement layers is one of the most important factors affecting the structural performance of pavements. The resilient modulus of the unbound geomaterials has been known as one of the most contributing factors to the mechanistic design process. The resilient modulus material models have been evolved significantly during the past two decades. A three-parameter nonlinear model is usually used to relate the stress state to the resilient modulus based on the characteristics of the geomaterials. Highway agencies use different versions of the resilient modulus models and the transformation from one model to another, requires the backcalculation of model parameters from laboratory results. This study aims at correlating the nonlinear model parameters between two of the resilient modulus models followed by the partial validation of the proposed process through a number of laboratory tests. The proposed correlations were associated with some level of uncertainty and yet were straightforward enough for practicality purposes. The performance of prediction models, as validated with a number of laboratory results, were reasonably acceptable. These models could then interchangeably been utilized to extract resilient modulus nonlinear model parameters from each of the evaluated models without the need to perform the backcalculation process