The Affect of Subgrade
Soils on Pavement Design,
Construction and
Performance
David Rettner,, PE
American Engineering Testing, Inc.
“You can pave concrete on Loon
S**t as long
g as it’s uniform
Loon S**t”
- Leo P. Warren
F
Former M
Mn/DOT
/DOT C
Concrete
t EEngineer
i
Outline
Design
Construction
Performance
Subgrade
Subgrade is typically the upper 4 feet of soil
under a pavement structure
Designed to provide adequate performance
for the intended purpose of the project
Highways
– 3-4 feet of correction/compaction
County Roads
– 2-3 feet
City Streets
– 1-3 feet
Parking Lots
– 1-2 feet
Pavement Design
Design ESALs 1,000,000
Asphalt
R‐value
l 5 15 30 700
Silty Clay Silt Loam Sandy Loam Select Granular
GE 38.8 29.2 21.8 15.5
HMA 8 5 4.5 4.5
Class 5 6 6 6 5
Select Granular 30 24 12 0
Concrete
Pavement 6.7 6.4 6.06 5.57
Class 5
l 5 5 5 3 to 5
Pavement Design
Subgrade strength is a key component
to asphalt
p pavement
p design
g
Subgrade strength is a minor
component to concrete pavement
design
– Drainage
– Stability
– Uniformity
Pavement Design
Design assumes a uniform subgrade
across the p
project
j
Uniformity ensures uniform performance
Pavement Design
Uniformity – What is it?
Strength (Compaction and Moisture)
Subcut
S b t Depth
D th
Frost Susceptibility
Drainage
Pavement Design
Does it have to be perfectly uniform?
NO!!
Existing subgrade that is stable can
be suitable for a paving platform
It needs to be evaluated over a fall,
winter and spring to make this
decision
Pavement Design
White-topping
White-
Relatively uniform subgrade support
Stable Subgrade
M need
May d spott corrections
ti
Frost heave areas
Th
Thaw weakening
k i areas
Subgrade Stabilization
Typically consists of a combination of
subgrade or a combination of subgrade and
aggregate base
– Lime
– Class C (self-
(self-cementing) Fly Ash
– Cement
– Combination of 2 of the above
Stabilizing
g agent
g dependent
p upon
p soils,,
moisture content and cost
Uniform
Equivalent Strength to Aggregate Base
Subgrade Stabilization
Can be constructed in 8-
8-12 inch lifts
Stable – resists pumping
D
Doesn’t
’t d
drain
i
My personal recommendation is that
aggregate base is still required.
CBR Test Results
CBR - Clay and Clay Blends
160
140
120
Value
100
80 Clay Only
CBR V
Org. Clay
60
Clay/Base
40
Clay/RAP
20
0 5 10 15 20
Fly Ash Content (%)
Blend
Subgrade Construction
Blending of soils is very important
– Don’t want a bunch of short discrete
pockets of different soils
Moisture control is very important
– Compaction
– Frost heave and settlement
Subgrade Construction
Blending of soils is very important
– Don’t want a bunch of short discrete
pockets of different soils
Moisture control is very important
– Compaction
– Frost heave and settlement
Subgrade Construction
Blending of soils is very important
– Don’t want a bunch of short discrete
pockets of different soils
Moisture control is very important
– Compaction
– Frost heave and settlement
Tapers from one soil type or treatment
to another
– 20H:1V eliminates sharp differentials
Subgrade Construction
Subcut Uniformity
– Subcut Depth
– GPS Grade Control
– Stakeless Grading
It works great except when it doesn’t
How do you know?
– Drainage
Needs to be thought out before construction
Pavement Performance
Most important Factors Impacting
Pavement Performance
– Concrete
C t MMaterials
t i l
Mistakes show up in 1-
1-10 years
– Can be terminal
– Subgrade Construction
Mistakes show up in 1-
1-10 years
– Generally not terminal
– You just live with a bad ride for as long as the road
lasts
– Design Details
Pavement Performance
Examples from my past
TH 14 – Tracy to Revere
– Topsoil subgrade – no base
– Subgrade
S b d sat for f 1-
1-2 years as the
h road
d
was built
– Constructed in 1931
– Rehabbed in 1991
– Still going strong
Pavement Performance
Examples from my past
TH 212 – Cologne Bypass
– Original Construction 1976
– Plastic
Pl i soilsil – high
hi h water table
bl
– Severe faulting 1984 – diamond ground
– Shatter and concrete overlay 1994
Pervious bond breaker
Edge Drains
– Now it has better drainage and more
uniform support
Pavement Performance
Examples from my past
TH 212 – Chaska to Eden Prairie
– 4 foot subcut
– 2 feet
f plastic
l i soils/2
il /2 feet
f select
l granular
l
– 60 year design life
Most of subgrade sat 1 year prior to
construction of pavement
Minor settlement at a couple of culverts
Questions?
Q ti ?
