Characterization of Lightly Stabilized Granular Base Materials Using Monotonic and Cyclic Load Flexural Testing

Abstract

Lightly cementitiously stabilized granular materials are generally characterized by their tensile properties and this paper examines the use of monotonic and cyclic load flexural testing to determine the tensile characteristics of these materials. The research reported in this paper included the determination of modulus of rupture as well as static and dynamic stiffness moduli from monotonic and cyclic load flexural testing for two typical freshly quarried granular base materials stabilized by the addition of 1–3% cement–fly ash slow-setting binder. A flexural testing setup with improved deformation measurement was developed and the tests were conducted on 28-day cured samples prepared by static compaction. Details of improved flexural testing arrangement with on-sample midspan deflection measurement for performing monotonic and cyclic load testing to obtain reliable data are also discussed. The research reported in this paper indicates that cyclic load flexural testing could be used reliably for determining the dynamic stiffness modulus of a lightly stabilized granular material. Correlations among the mechanical properties obtained from flexural testing are also presented.