Two unbound granular materials stiffness analysis with staged repeated load CBR test

Abstract

Design methods of flexible pavements in many countries are based on linear elastic behaviour model for Unbound Granular Materials (UGM). In this context, parameters required to characterize an UGM in structural analysis of pavements are Stiffness modulus and Poisson ratio (E and ν). This paper presents a study of two UGM stiffness. Finite element simulation of repeated load CBR (RL-CBR) test has allowed to derive equation used in calculation of materials equivalent modulus based on laboratory RL-CBR Outputs. The staged RL-CBR test is used to evaluate material stiffness for different stress states to highlight its influence on UGM stiffness and compare studied materials. Also, this paper shows that even if two materials are different according to the current road authority specifications, they can represent similar stiffness.