Influence of Environmental Humidity on Mechanical Properties of Natural and Recycled Unbound Materials

Abstract

Low volume roads are widely used all over the world. To improve their quality a FEM computer simulation of their behavior is proposed. The input information about mechanical properties of individual materials is crucial for obtaining results as exact as possible. Among others, the mechanical properties are generally dependent on the state of stress and on humidity conditions. For this purpose the cyclic-load triaxial machine testing of cyclic-load performance of materials seems to be a promising test method. The test specimens can be prepared with different amounts of water. Thus modulus of elasticity (Young modulus) of different materials including recycled ones can be measured under the different conditions of horizontal and vertical stresses and under the different humidity conditions. Using the proposed testing procedure the modulus of elasticity of materials used in the newly built low volume road is obtained under the different state of stress as well as humidity conditions set to standard, dry and fully saturated level. Also recycled materials which are able to replace the traditional materials in the pavement are tested. Obtained values of modulus of elasticity can be used in a FEM study of the newly built road.

Keywords

• low volume road
• pavement
• triaxial test
• Young modulus
• unbound materials