UFC 3-260-02
30 June 2001
APPENDIX N
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE RESILIENT MODULUS
OF GRANULAR BASE MATERIAL
N-1. PROCEDURE. This procedure is designed to determine resilient properties of granular base
(subbase) materials. The test is similar to a standard triaxial compression test, the primary
exception being that the deviator stress is applied repetitively at several stress levels. The
procedure allows testing under a repetitive stress state similar to that encountered in a base
(subbase) course layer in a pavement under a moving wheel load.
N-2. DEFINITIONS. The following symbols and terms are used in the description of this procedure:
a. F1 = total axial stress.
b. F3 = total radial stress, i.e., confining pressure in the triaxial test.
c. Fd = deviator stress (F1 - F3), i.e., the repeated axial stress in this procedure.
d. ,1 = total axial strain due to Fd.
e. ,R = resilient axial strain due to Fd.
,R = resilient lateral strain due to Fd.
f.
g. MR = the resilient modulus = Fd/,R.
h. <R = the resilient Poisson's ratio = ,R/,R.
2 = sum of the principal stresses in the triaxial state of stress (F1 + 2F3 = Fd + 3F3).
i
F1/F3 = principal stress ratio.
j.
k. Load duration = time interval during which the sample is subjected to a stress deviator.
l.
Cycle duration = time interval between successive applications of the deviator stress.
N-3. SPECIMENS. For base-course materials, 152-millimeter- (6-inch-) diameter specimens are
generally required with the maximum particle size being limited to 25 millimeters (1 inch). The
specimen height should be at least twice the diameter.
N-4. EQUIPMENT.
a. Triaxial Test Cell. The triaxial cell shown schematically in Figure N-1 is suitable for use in
resilient testing of soils. The equipment is similar to most standard cells. However, there are a
few specialized criteria that must be met to provide acceptable test results. Generally, the
equipment is slightly larger than most standard cells to accommodate the 152-millimeter- (6-inch-)
diameter specimens and the internally mounted load and deformation measuring equipment.
N-1