Fatigue characterization of lightly cementitiously stabilized granular base materials using flexural testing

Abstract

The fatigue characteristics of a lightly stabilized granular material under traffic loading are important considerations for the design of a pavement containing such material. This paper examines the use of flexural testing with on-sample midspan deflection measurement for determining fatigue characteristics of lightly stabilized granular base materials. The experimental program included cyclic load flexural testing to determine the stiffness modulus, fatigue life, and damage characteristics of a granular material stabilized lightly with 1-3% cement-fly ash and to establish relationships for predicting the fatigue life. Fatigue life was estimated using the energy ratio approach and compared with the number of load cycles required to break the specimen. Empirical relationships are proposed to relate the fatigue life with tensile strain and stress ratio similar to those proposed in the literature. Progressive damage due to fatigue and permanent deformation accumulation with increases in the load cycles is also presented in this study. 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.