GRANULAR SUB BASE

DESCRIPTION

This item shall consist of furnishing, spreading in one or more layers and compacting granular sub base
according to the specifications and drawings and/or as directed by the Engineer.

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

Granular sub base material shall consist of natural or processed aggregates such as gravel, sand or
stone fragment and shall be clean and free from dirt, organic matter and other deleterious substances,
and shall be of such nature that it can be compacted readily under watering and rolling to form a firm,
stable sub base.

The material shall comply to the following grading and quality requirements:

a) The sub base material shall have a gradation curve within the limits for grading A, 8, and C
given below. However grading A may be allowed by the Engineer in special circumstances.

Grading Requirements f o r Sub base Material

Mass Percent Passing
Sieve Designation
Grading
mm Inch A B

60.0 (2.1/2) 100 --

50.0 (2) 90-100 100
25.0 (1) 50-80 55-85
9.5 (3/8) -- 40-70
4.75 No. 4 35-70 30-60
2.0 No. 10 -- 20-50
0.425 No. 40 -- 10-30
0.075 No. 200 2-8 5-15

The Coefficient of Uniformity 060/010 shall be not less than 3, where

060 and 010 are the particle diameters corresponding to 60% and 10%, respectively, passing (by weight) in
a grain size analysis, curve.

b) The Material shall have a CBR value of at least 50%, determined according to AASHTO T-193.
The CBR value shall be obtained at a density corresponding to Ninety eight (98) percent of the maximum
dry density determined according to AASHTO T-180
Method-0.

c) The coarse aggregate material retained on sieve No. 4 shall have a percentage of
wear by the Los Angeles Abrasion (AASHTO T-96) of not more than fifty (50) percent.

d) In order to avoid intrusion of silty and clayey material from the subgrade in the
sub base, the ratio 015 (Sub base)/085 (Subgrade) should be less than 5.

Where 085 and 015 are the particle diameters corresponding to

.eiqhty five (85) % and.. fifteen (15) %, respectively, passing (by
weight) in a grain size analysis, curve.

e) The fraction passing the 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve shall not be greater than two third of
the fraction passing the 0.425 mm (No.
40) sieve. The fraction passing the 0.425 mm sieve shall have a liquid limit of not greater than 25
and a plasticity index of 6 O!
less.

f) If over-size is encountered, screening of material at source, shall invariably be done, no

hand picking shall be allowed, however hand picking may be allowed by the Engineer, if over-
size quantity is less than 5% of the total mass.

g) Sand equivalent for all classes shall be 25 min.

CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Spreading

Granular sub base shall be spread on approved subgrade layer as a uniforr.1 mixture. Segregation
shall be avoided during spreading and the final compacted layer shall be free from concentration
of coarse or fine materials.

Granular sub base shall be deposited on the roadbed or shoulders in a quantity which will
provide the required compacted thickness without resorting to spotting, picking up or otherwise
shifting the sub base material. In case any material is to be added to compensate for levels, the
same shall be done after scarifying the existing material, to ensure proper bonding of additional
material.

When the required thickness is fifteen (15) cm or less, the aggregates may be spread and compacted
as one layer, but in no case shall a layer be less than seven and· one half (7.5) centimeters thick.
Where the required thickness is more than 15 cm, the aggregates shall be spread and
compacted in 2 or more layers of approximately equal thickness, but in any case the maximum
compacted thickness of one layer shall not exceed 15 cm. All subsequent layers shall be spread
and compacted in a similar manner.

Granular sub base shall be spread with equipment that will provide a uniform layer conforming to the
specified item both transversely and longitudinally within the tolerances as specified in "Table for
Allowable Tolerances" in these specifications. No hauling or placement of material will be permitted
when, in the judgment of the Engineer, the weather or road conditions are such that the hauling
operation will cause cutting or rutting of subgrade or contamination of sub base material.

Compaction

The moisture content of sub base material shall be adjusted prior to compaction, by watering with
approved sprinklers mounted on trucks or by drying out, as required, in order to obtain the specified
compaction.

The sub base material shall be compacted by means of approved vibrating rollers or steel wheel
rollers (rubber tyred rollers may be used as a supplement), progressing gradually from the outside
towards the Centre, except on super elevated curves, where the rolling shall begin at the low side and
progress to the high side. Each succeeding pass shall overlap the previous pass by at least one
third of the roller width. While the rolling progresses, the entire surface of each layer shall be properly
shaped and dressed with a motor grader, to attain a smooth surface free from ruts or ridges and
having proper section and crown. Rolling shall continue until entire thickness of each layer is
thoroughly and uniformly compacted to the specified density.
Any area inaccessible to rolling equipment shall be compacted by means of hand guided rollers, plate
compactors or mechanical tampers, where the thickness in loose layer shall not be more than 10 cm.

If the layer of sub base material, or part thereof does not conform to the required finish, the Contractor
shall, at his own expense, rework, water, and re-compact the material before succeeding layer of the
pavement structure is constructed.

Immediately prior to the placing of first layer of base course the sub base layer (both under the traveled
way and the shoulders) shall conform to the required level and shape. Prior to placing the
succeeding layers of the material, the top surface of each layer shall be made sufficiently moist to
ensure bond between the layers. The edges or edge slopes shall be bladed or otherwise dressed to
conform to the lines and dimensions shown on the plans.

No material for construction of the base shall be placed until the sub base has been approved by the
Engineer.

Compaction requirements

The relative compaction of each layer of the compacted sub base shall not be less than Ninety eight
(98) percent of the maximum dry density determined according to AASHTO T-180 Method-D. The field
density shall be determined according to AASHTO T-191 or other approved method. For all materials,
the field density thus obtained shall be adjusted to account for oversize particles (retained on 19 mm
sieve) as directed by the Engineer Also for adjustment of any material retained on 4. 75 mm sieve,
AASHTO Method T-224 shall be used

Moisture Content Determination

As n is customary in the project laboratories that small samples of materials are placed in ovens for
moisture determination for proctor, following precautions are necessary to ensure proper compaction
results.

a) Same size of sample is placed in oven for moisture determination in case of laboratory density
(Proctor) and field density.

b) Moisture content for calculation of field density and proctor shall be observed on material
passing 4. 75 mm sieve.
Tolerance

The sub base shall be compacted to the desired level and cross slopes as shown on the drawings. The
allowable tolerance shall be according to the "Table for Allowable Tolerances" in these specifications.

MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

Measurement
The quantity of sub base to be paid for shall be measured by the theoretical volume in place as shown
on the drawings or as directed and approved for construction by the Engineer, placed and accepted in
the completed granular sub base course. No allowance will be given for materials placed outside the
Theoretical limits as shown on the cross-sections
Payment

The accepted quantities measured as provided above shall be paid for at the contract unit price per
cubic meter of granular sub base, for the Pay Item listed below and shown in the Bill of Quantities,
which price and payment shall constitute full compensation for furnishing all materials, hauling,
placing, watering, rolling, labour, equipment, tools and incidentals necessary to complete the item.
Payment will be made in CUM.