PLATE LOAD TEST TO DETERMINE “K” VALUE (MODULUS OF

SUBGRADE REACTION

AS PER

IS:9214-1979

PROJECT NAME:

PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF PEPSICO PROJECT AT NALBARI, ASSAM

NAME OF CONTRACTOR:

SEMAC CONSULTANTS LTD

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

L&T TECHNOLOGY SERVICE-

PREPARED BY
PROMAC ENGINEER’S
AN ISO 9001: 2015 Certified, JOPORIGOG NEAR ASEB
OFFICE, HOUSE NO-60,
Ph-98647-82010,
E-mail: [email protected] us at-
www.promacengineers.in
 CONTENTS

Sl No. TOPIC Pg No.

1 INTRODUCTION 1-2
2 APPARATUS 3
3 TEST PROCEDURE 4
4 CORRECTIONS OF SUBGRADE TEST RESULTS 5

5. TEST DATA 6-7

ANNEXURE A REPORT 8
ANNEXURE B FIELD TEST READINGS 9
FIGURE 1 TEST SET UP 2
FIGURE 2 LOAD VS SETTLEMENT CURVE 6
SITE PHOTOGRAPHS 11
1. INTRODUCTION

Modulus of subgrade reaction or coefficient of subgrade reaction is the reaction

pressure sustained by the soil sample under a rigid plate of standard diameter per unit
settlement measured at a specified pressure or settlement.

It is a stiffness parameter that is commonly used to define the support conditions of

footings and mat foundations. This parameter explains a linear elastic response. Hence
during the design, the pressure generated by the modulus of subgrade reaction is
limited to the allowable bearing pressure of the soil.

The coefficient of sub-grade reaction (k) is the primary parameter used in thedesign of
pavements, foundation, and soil-structure interaction studies. This article elaborates
on the basic concept and determination of the coefficient ofsub-grade reaction.

1.1Modulus of Subgrade Reaction

Modulus of subgrade reaction is defined as the pressure per unit deformation of the
subgrade at specific pressure or deformation. It is expressed as:

k = p/s

Here, 'k' is the modulus or coefficient of subgrade reaction, 'p' is the pressure, and 's' is
the deformation of soil settlement. The coefficient of subgrade reaction is measured and
expressed as load intensity per unit of displacement.In the SI unit system, it is expressed
as kN/m2/m.

1.2 Determination of Modulus of Sub-Grade Reaction

The modulus of subgrade reaction is determined by the field plate load test in
conformity with IS:9214-1979. Inthis test, compressive stress is applied to the soil layer
through rigid plates, and the deflections are measured for different values of stress.

1
Figure-1: Modulus of Subgrade Reaction- Plate Bearing
Test Apparatus

2
2. APPARATUS

The test setup consists of a loading frame that has a hydraulic jack, a reaction beam,
and a proving ring. The settlement of the plate is measured using a dial gauge. The dial
gauges are attached to a separate datum frame as shown in Figure-1. The standard size
of the plate is 750 mm in diameter.

Bearing Plates - It is a circular mild steel plate of 75 cm diameter and 25 mm

thickness. Smaller bearing plates of 45, 40 or 30 cm may also be used.

Loading Attachment - Loads are applied by means of a hydraulic jack or a screw jack
working against a reaction frame through bearing plates. The loading attachment
should have a capacity of at least 150 kN (15000 kgf) equipped with ball and socket
joint between the test load and the jack to avoid eccentricity. The device should have
an arrangement for attaching to a truck, trailer, truss or any other equipment load
reaction.

Jacks - Hydraulic or screw jack of 150 kN (15000 kgf) capacity is used.

Proving Ring - One calibrated proving ring of capacity 150 kN ( 15000 kgf) with dial
gauge to read to an accuracy of 0·002 mm is used.

Loading Reaction - The reaction for jacking can be provided by a truck, trailer or
anchor frame such that its reaction shall be at least 2·5 m away from the centre of the
bearing plates.

Measuring Deformation - The vertical movement resulting from applied loads will
be measured by at least three dial gauges uniformly placed 120ᵒ apart, preferably four
uniformly placed at 90° apart, and placed at about 10 mm away from the rim of 75cm
plate.

Jack Pads - Due to variation in the depth of test points some distance pieces, spacers,
are required between jack and proving ring. These can be solid cylindrical pieces of
aluminum alloy or any other suitable material to withstand and help in transferring
heavy loads on to the bearing plate. These spacers should be at least 15, 20 and 30 cm
long.

Stiffening Plates - These are mild steel plates of 60, 45 and 30 cm diameter and 25
mm thickness.

Miscellaneous Apparatus - Datum bar of 5 m length with suitable dial gauge

attachments, pick axes, showel, trowel, spatula, spirit level and plumb bob are used.

3
3. TEST PROCEDURE

3.1 Preparation 0f Test Area –

Preparation of Filled-Up Area : In case the test is to be conducted on

subgrade composed of fill materials, a test embankment of about 75 cm height is
constructed, after necessary stripping. For design purposes the conditions of the
moisture content and dry density of the test area should be those which are likely to
exist when the subgrade has reached a state of relative equilibrium subsequent to the
construction at pavement. Generally, the subgrade is compacted at optimum moisture
content and specified density of ordinary compaction equipment is not available,
approximate compaction may be obtained by hand tamping in layers. The plate is
properly placed on the test site. The test site must be leveled and prepared before
placing the plate. As shown in the figure 1, the stiffening plates are placed on the
bottom plate in the order of decreasing diameter.

3.2 Loading Procedure - There are two methods for determination of modulus of
subgrade reaction.

Method 1 - The loading system and bearing plate should be seated by applying a load
of 3.1 kN (310 kgf) (0·007 MPa for a standard 75 cm diameter plate), when the design
thickness of pavement is less than 40 cn which is normally used for lightly loaded
pavements. For heavy duty pavements a seating loading of 6.2 kN (620 kgf) should be
used. The seating load will be allowed to remain until practically complete
deformation has taken place, at this time a reading should be taken on the dial gauges
and adjusted to 'zero' reading. Cyclic loading under 31 kN ( 310 kgf) or 6·2 kN ( 620
kgf) seating load, as required, may be used to assure good seating of the bearing plate.
Then without releasing the seating load an additional 31 kN ( 3100 kgf) [that is, a total
34.1 kN ( 3410 kgf) or 37.2 kN (3720 kgf) load depending on the type of the
pavement, should be applied to the plates and held until practically complete
settlement has taken place. For recording observations, proforma given at Appendix A
of IS:9214 should be used. Prior to releasing the 31 kN (3100 kgf) load, a value of Ku
is computed for the average deflection at the plate rim by the formula:

Ku= (0.07/d) MPa/cm

where d = deflection in cm

Method II - The plate shall first be seated by applying a load equivalent to a pressure
of 0·007 MPa (0·07 kgf/cm2) and releasing it after a few seconds. A load sufficient to
cause approximately 0.85mm settlement should be applied and when there is no
perceptible increase in settlement or in the case of clayey soils, when the rate of
increase in settlement is less than 0·025 mm/min the average of the readings of the
deflection dial gauges are noted. The load as measured by the pressure gauge attached
to the jack or by the proving ring should be noted, both immediately before and after
the deflection readings. The load should be increased until there is an additional
settlement of approximately 0·25 mm and the load and deflection again noted when
there is no perceptible increase in settlement. This procedure should be repeated until a
total settlement of not less than 1·75 mm has been produced. For recording
observations proforma is given at Appendix B of IS:9214.

4
4. CORRECTIONS OF SUBGRADE TEST RESULTS

Since the 75 x 75 Cm plate is used for test there is no need of applying any correction.5. TEST
DATA

The test data were recorded as follows:

Pressure Load Load Pressure

PDGR
Increment PDGR
in
(ton) kg/cm2 Tonne Kg (in cm) kg kg/cm2
(mm)

0 0 0 0
2 0.36 2 2000 0.16 1.63
2 0.71 4 4000 0.24 2.42
2 1.07 6 6000 0.37 3.71 12000 2.13
2 1.42 8 8000 0.49 4.95
2 1.78 10 10000 0.66 6.60
2 2.13 12 12000 0.89 8.93

The Load Settlement curve is plotted as under

2.5

2
Load in kg/cm2

1.5

Load corresponding to
1.25mm settlement
1 Load vs Settlement

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Settlement in mm

FIGURE 2: LOAD SETTLEMENT CURVE

5
 The modulus of subgrade reaction is calculated as the ratio of load corresponding to 1.25mm
settlement.

Ku =(0.28/0.125)
= 2.24 kg/cm3

The value of Ku is to be corrected for size of plate, load deflection curve, bending and
saturation.

i. As 75cm plate is used hence correction for size of plate is not required in this case.
ii. For the portion of load settlement curve marking the value of Ku, the curve portion is a
straight line, hence no correction required.
iii. For corrections for bending of plate, the corrected value of Ku that can be read from
Fig 5 of IS: 9214-1979 remains unchanged and = 0.96 kg/cm2.
iv. As the soil is compacted sand gravel, hence consolidometer correction for saturation
is not taken into consideration.

ANNEXURE A: REPORT

Nalbari,
Location
Assam
Material at test
GSB
point

Depth of test

Condition of test
Soaked
surface
Period of
N/A
soaking, if any
Size of test plate
75cmx75cm
used
Tested on 12-04-2024

Average
Deflection Final
Load of Dial Kb/Kp/Ks Corrected
Ku (kg/cm3)
(kg) Gauge kg/cm3 “K” value
Reading in kg/cm3
in (mm)
0 0
2000 1.63
4000 2.42
6000 3.71 2.24 2.24 2.24
8000 4.95 corresponding
10000 6.60 to 0.125cm
12000 8.93 settlement

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 Annexure B: FIELD READINGS

TIME DIAL GAUGE

LOAD APPLIED READING(mm) MEAN
DATE (MIN) REMARKS
(TON.)
A B C (mm)
12-04-2024 1.00 2MT 1.60 1.42 1.76 0.00
2.00 1.61 1.43 1.76 1.60
4.00 1.61 1.44 1.76 1.60
6.00 1.63 1.44 1.77 1.61
9.00 1.64 1.45 1.78 1.62
15.00 1.65 1.46 1.78 1.63
25.00 1.65 1.46 1.79 1.63
1.00 4MT 2.41 2.19 2.56 2.39
2.00 2.41 2.20 2.57 2.39
4.00 2.41 2.20 2.57 2.39
6.00 2.42 2.20 2.58 2.40
9.00 2.42 2.21 2.58 2.40
15.00 2.42 2.22 2.61 2.42
25.00 2.43 2.22 2.61 2.42
1.00 6MT 3.65 3.45 3.86 3.65
2.00 3.66 3.45 3.88 3.66
4.00 3.70 3.46 3.90 3.69
6.00 3.70 3.47 3.90 3.69
9.00 3.70 3.50 3.90 3.70
15.00 3.70 3.50 3.90 3.70
25.00 3.72 3.50 3.90 3.71
1.00 8MT 4.16 4.97 5.51 4.88
2.00 4.20 4.99 5.54 4.91
4.00 4.23 5.02 5.56 4.94
6.00 4.23 5.02 5.56 4.94
9.00 4.23 5.02 5.56 4.94
15.00 4.24 5.02 5.57 4.94
25.00 4.24 5.02 5.58 4.95
1.00 10MT 6.44 6.25 6.90 6.53
2.00 6.49 6.29 6.94 6.57
4.00 6.50 6.29 6.94 6.58
6.00 6.51 6.31 6.96 6.59
9.00 6.51 6.31 6.96 6.59
15.00 6.51 6.31 6.97 6.60
25.00 6.51 6.32 6.97 6.60
1.00 12MT 8.73 8.49 9.31 8.84
2.00 8.74 8.49 9.32 8.85
4.00 8.82 8.51 9.34 8.89
6.00 8.82 8.52 9.35 8.90
9.00 8.83 8.53 9.36 8.91
15.00 8.84 8.54 9.37 8.92
25.00 8.84 8.55 9.40 8.93
7
PHOTOGRAPH