Earthwork for Embankments,

Specifications for Subgrade,

Sub base, Base construction

Presentation by
Dr. Vasant G. Havanagi
 INTRODUCTION

• Pavement failures due to settlement

of embankment fill and subgrade

• Need for suitable materials and

proper quality control during
execution

• Adoption of MORTH specifications

 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE
• SUITABILITY OF MATERIALS
 Free from peat, perishable and other organic
material
 Should not be spontaneously combustible
 LL  70, PI  45
 With salts are not suitable
 Free Swell Index  50 % should not be used
 Total sulphate content (  0.5 %) must be
avoided
 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE (Contd.)

• SIZE OF MATERIAL
 Size of coarse material  75 mm in
embankment fill
  50 mm in subgrade
 Max. particle size  2/3 of compacted
layer thickness
 Density requirements for Embankment and Subgrade

S.No. Type of work Maximum laboratory dry

unit weight when tested as
per IS: 2720 (Part 8)

1. Embankments up to 3 metres Not less than 15.2 kN/cu.m

height, not subjected to
extensive flooding

2. Embankments exceeding 3 Not less than 16.0 kN/cu.m

metres height or
embankments of any height
subject to long periods of
inundation

3. Subgrade and earthen Not less than 17.5 kN/cu.m

shoulders/verges/backfill
 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE (Contd.)
• Spreading of material in layers and
bringing to appropriate moisture content.
 Max. compacted thickness = 20 cm
 Moisture content (-2 % + 1% of OMC)
Expansive soils (@ OMC or on wet side of
optimum)
 Pan drying method
 Oven drying method
 Speedy moisture meter
 Microwave oven method
 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE (Contd.)
• Compaction
 Smooth wheel rollers
 Sheep foot rollers
 Pneumatic tyred rollers
 Vibratory rollers

• Other compacting equipments

 Small vibratory rollers
 Plate vibrators
 Rammers
Dozers
 JCB
(Backhoe
cum
Loader)

Motor
grader
 Tractor as
grader

Tractor as
plough
Vibratory roller
 Small
vibratory
roller

Plate
compactor
 DISCUSSION

Compaction of ground with

underlaying Cables, Water pipe
lines, Sewer lines etc.
 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE (Contd.)

Man hole in the centre of Compacted subgrade

 EARTHWORK FOR
EMBANKMENT/SUBGRADE (Contd.)
• Field density control
 Core cutter method
 Sand replacement method
 Non-destructive methods, Nuclear density
gauge

• Relative compaction
Field dry density x 100
Laboratory density
Compaction requirements for embankment and subgrade

S.No. Type of work/material Relative compaction as

percentage of max. laboratory dry
densiy as per IS: 2720 (Part 8)

1. Subgrade and earthen Not less than 97

shoulders

2. Embankment Not less than 95

3. Expansive clays

(a) Subgrade and Not allowed

500 mm portion
just below the
subgrade
Not less than 90
(b) Remaining
portion of
embankment
Quality control tests and their frequencies
Sl.No Test Relevant Frequency of test
code

1. Deleterious content IS:2720 : Min 2 tests per

Part - 27 borrow area

2. Natural Moisture content IS:2720 : 1 test / 250 m3

Part - 2

3. Gradation IS:2720 : 2 tests / 3000 m3

Part - 4

4 Plasticity Index IS:2720 : 2 tests / 3000 m3

Part - 5

5. Compaction tests IS:2720 : 2 tests / 3000 m3

Part - 8

6. C.B.R IS:2720 : 1 test / 3000 m3

Part - 16

7. FField density
(a) Embankment 1 test / 1000 m2
(b) Subgrade/shoulders IS:2720 : 1 test / 500 m2
Part – 28
IS:2720:
Part - 29
 QUALITY CONTROL (Contd.)

• Tolerances in surface levels in subgrade

+ 20 mm, -25 mm

• Acceptance crireria
Mean density should not be less than
specified density +
1.65 - 1.65 times the standard deviation
(No. of samples)0.5
 DISCUSSION

Acceptance crireria

Mean density should not be less than

specified density +

1.65 - 1.65 times the standard deviation

(No. of samples)0.5
 EARTHWORK UNDER SPECIAL
CONDITIONS
• Compacting ground supporting
Embankment/Subgrade
• Earthwork over existing road surface
• Earthwork for widening existing road
embankment
• Embankment construction under water
• Construction of embankment over soft
soils
 DISCUSSION

Construction of embankment
over soft soils/water logged
areas
 Utilisation of fly ash
4-laning work on NH-6 (Dankuni to Kolaghat)
(Under consideration)

Length - 54 km.
Height - 3 to 4 m
Fly ash utilisation - 2 Million
cu.m

Water logged area (soft ground

conditions)

Compaction of fly ash over layer of geotextile

Earthwork in four laning work in NH -6

Mixing of fly ash and sand with tiller

 Embankment on soft soil

Band drains for consolidation of sub soil

Installation of Band drain

 HIGH EMBANKMENT
• Failures within the body of embankment
 Incorrect design practices
 Poor fill materials
 Unsatifactory construction methods
 Lack of quality control

• Failures involving foundation

 Insufficient consideration of the foundation
conditions
 Inadequate subsoil investigation
 HIGH EMBANKMENT
• Types of failures
 Sliding of cohesionless material
 Rotational failure
 Planar and composite failure
 Sinking failure

• Design of high embankment

 Using any available software
 Target FS = 1.25 for economical design
HIGH EMBANKMENT

Embankment slope failure

 Design of embankment with Gabion
Retaining wall
Gabion fill
 = 40o
c = 0 kN/m2
bulk = 18 kN/m3
Backfill and foundation soil

 = 29o
c = 0 kN/m2
bulk = 18 kN/m3
sat = 20 kN/m3
 (soil-wall)= 20o

Hydraulic fill with Gabion retaining wall

Surcharge =24 kN/m2

Surcharge =24 kN/m2
2H:1V
2H:1V

Factor of safety = 1.18

Factor of Safety = 1.26

Overall stability Slope stability of Hydraulic fill

 EROSION CONTROL
• Common methods
 Simple vegetative turfing
 Transplantation of ready made turfs
of grass
 Straw with cowdung or wood
shavings or sawdust as mulch

 Special techniques
 Asphalt mulch technique
 Vegetative turfing using Jute/coir
netting
 Slopes in cohesionless sands and
black cotton soils
Erosion Control of Slopes

Use of Jute Geotextile

Approach Embankment for Second
Nizamuddin Bridge at Delhi
Length = 1.8 Km, Height = 6 to 9 m,
Ash utilised = 1.5 lakh cu.m,
Savings = 1 crore
 Spreading of pond ash

Second Nizamuddin Bridge Approach Embankment

Compaction of pond ash

 Stone pitching for slope
protection

Second Nizamuddin Bridge Approach Embankment

Traffic plying on the

embankment
Okhla Flyover Approach Embankment

Length of Embankment = 59 m
Height = 5.9 to 7.8 m
Ash utilised = 2700 cu.m
Opened to traffic = 1996
 Erection of facing panels

Okhla Flyover Approach Embankment

Laying of geogrids
 Rolling of pond ash

Okhla Flyover Approach Embankment

Support provided to
facing panels during
construction
Hanuman Setu Flyover Approach Embankment

– Geogrid reinforced fly ash approach embankment

– Length of embankment - 138.4 m
– Height varied from 3.42 m to 1.0 m
– Opened to traffic in 1997
Sarita Vihar Flyover Approach
Embankment
- Length = 90 m
- Max height - 5.25 m
- Opened to traffic in Feb 2001
- Polymeric friction ties used
for reinforcement
- Ash utilised = 35,000 cu.m
Bulging of RE wall
 Use of Geotextiles for
constructing embankment with
steep slope

Laying of
geotextile over
soil subgrade
 Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique

Dredging Plant used for Transporting Sand from Yamuna

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Dredging of Sand Through Pipes

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Pumping of Dredged Sand

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Drainage Pipes used for Disposal of Water

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Spreading of Dredged Sand using Dozer

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Embankment built using Dredged Sand

Construction of embankment using
Hydraulic fill Technique (Contd.)

Stone Pitching on Embankment Slope

 Construction of Sub base,
Material Specifications, Quality
Control During Execution
 INTRODUCTION

• Intermediate layer between subgrade

and granular base course

• Essentially a drainage layer

• Distributes the stresses imposed by

traffic
 MATERIALS FOR SUB BASE
• LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS
 Natural sand
 Moorum
 Kankar
 Crushed stone

• INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER MATERIALS

 Steel slag
 Pond ash or Pond-Bottom ash mix
 Crushed concrete
 Brick metal
Table 1 Grading for close-graded granular sub-base material
IS. Sieve Per cent by weight passing the sieve

Grading I Grading Grading

II III

75 mm 100 - -

53 mm 80-100 100 -

26.5 mm 55-90 70-100 100

9.5 mm 35-65 50-80 65-95

4.75 mm 25-55 40-65 50-80

2.36 mm 20-40 30-50 40-65

0.425 10-25 15-25 20-35

mm

0.075 3-10 3-10 3-10

mm

CBR 30 25 20
(Min.)
Table 2 Grading for coarse-graded granular sub-base material
IS. Per cent by weight passing the
Sieve sieve
Grading Grading II Grading
I III
75 mm 100 - -

53 mm - 100 -

26.5 55-75 70-100 100

mm
9.5 mm - - -

4.75 10-30 15-35 25-45

mm
2.36 - - -
mm
0.425 - - -
mm
0.075 10 10 10
mm
CBR 30 25 20
(Min.)
 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Max. water absorption = 2 per cent

• For the material passing 425 micron
sieve
 LL < 25 per cent
 PI < 6
• Should satisfy CBR requirement as
specified
• Min. CBR requirement may be reduced
in case of rural roads
CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
• Preparation of subgrade
• Spreading and compacting
 Addition of water (+1, -2 % of OMC)
 Use of smooth wheel roller (8t to 10t) for
thickness < 100 mm
 Use of vibratory roller for thickness upto
225 mm.

• Rolling
 Edges towards center
 Speed of roller 5 Km/h

• Field density achieved should not be less than 98

per cent of MDD determined as per IS: 2720 (Part-8)
 DISCUSSION
• DETERMINATION OF LABORATORY
DENSITY (MDD) AND (OMC) OF
GRANULAR SUB-BASE

• DETERMINATION OF LABORATORY
CBR
@ 100 % MDD
@ 98% MDD
 COARSE SAND SUB-BASE
• Used especially when subgrade
is clay or silty
• Acts as a inverted choke
• Primarily functions as drainage
layer
• The sand layer spread needs to be
flooded before one or two passes of
roller
Inverted choke sand layer
Grading limits adopted for internal roads at
Dwarka, New Delhi

Sieve Grading limits

designation (%)
10 mm 100
4.75 mm 90-100
2.36 mm 85-100
1.18 mm 75-100
600 micron 60-79
300 micron 12-40
150 micron 0-10
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS OF SUB BASE
 Min. CBR of 20% for traffic upto 2 msa & 30% for traffic > 2
msa

 Min. thickness 150 mm (traffic < 10 msa)

 Min. thickness 200 mm (traffic > 10 msa)

 If CBR of subgrade < 2%, capping layer of 150 mm (min. CBR

of 10%) is provided in addition to sub base

 Should be extended over the entire formation width for proper

sub surface drainage
MEASURES FOR PROPER SUB-SURFACE
DRAINAGE (Contd.)

Drainage by open graded sub-base

MEASURES FOR PROPER SUB-SURFACE
DRAINAGE (Contd.)

Drainage by extended Sub-base

 PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION ON
EXPANSIVE SOILS
 Compaction at low densities and high moisture – Swell little

 Compaction on wet side of optimum

 CBR determined by compacting the soil at M.C 2% wet of

optimum and to corresponding density.

 Use of blanket course (min.225 mm thick) having PI < 5 extended

over the entire formation width.

 Alternative use of lime stabilised black cotton sub base.

 A min. height of 1m between subgrade level and HFL.

 Impermeable shoulder – Lime stabilised BC soil

MEASURES FOR PROPER SUB-SURFACE
DRAINAGE IN EXPANSIVE SOILS
 Increase in the subgrade (clayey/silty) moisture
is avoided by provision of sand blanket

Suggested improvement for the sub-surface

 Sub surface Drainage (Contd.)

Silty soil
Granular material

Highest water table

Capillary
rise

Provision of granular capillary cut-off when subgrade

is within the zone of capillary saturation
LIME STABILISED SUB BASES
LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
• Adopted when local clayey soil is
having PI > 8
• Slaked lime is used
• Purity of lime
 Should not be less than 70 per cent by
weight of quick lime
 If such purity is not available, provide
higher quantity of lime
 LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
(Contd.)
• DESIGN MIX
• Proportion of lime and soil depends on
 Required CBR
 Required Unconfined Compressive Strength
(UCS)
• Minimum UCS value 1717 kN/m2 after 7 days
moist curing for use in Base course (IRC-50, IRC-
SP-20)
• Minimum UCS value 700 kN/m2 after 7 days moist
curing for use in sub base course
(IRC-51-1992)
 LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
(Contd.)
• CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
 Preparation subgrade
 Depending on the design mix, soil is spread
after pulverisation

IS: Sieve designation Min. per cent by weight

passing IS: Sieve
26.5 mm 100
5.6 mm 80
 LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
(Contd.)
• Spreading of lime
• Dry mixing with tractor towed Rotavator
(developed by CRRI), Disc harrows or other
agricultural equipment
• Addition of moisture as per IS:2720 - Part (8)
(Lab. comp. test carried out on the design mix)
• Wet rolling
• Relative compaction of the finished surface
should be min. 98% of MDD as per IS:2720
(Part 8)
 LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
(Contd.)

• IMPORTANT POINTS DURING EXECUTION

 Air temperature during construction > 100C
 Compaction of lime stabilised material must be
completed within three hours of mixing
 The complted surface should be cured for a
minimum period of 7 days
• Curing by spreading moist straw or sand
• Use of bituminous curing material (cutback/emulsion)
 Lime stabilisation of Iron
slags (Orissa)

View of finished surface of

road constructed using
slags at Orissa
 Fly ash for Road Construction
(Raichur, Karnataka)
• Lime stabilised Sub-base for flexible pavements

Stabilisation of soil
with fly ash and lime

Compaction of
stabilised soil using
road roller
LIME-STABILISED SUB-BASE
(Contd.)

Use of Rotavator for mixing

CEMENT STABILISED SUB BASES
CEMENT STABILISED SUB- BASE

• Adopted to stabilise soils like sand, gravel,

Kankar, Brick aggregates, slag

• For material passing 425 micron IS Sieve

(LL < 45 per cent, PI < 20 per cent)

• Cement as per IS: 269,455 or 1489

• The water used should be clean . Potable

water is preferred
Table 4 Grading limits of material for stabilisation with cement
IS sieve size Percentage by
mass passing

53 mm 100

37.5 mm 95

19 mm 45

9.5 mm 35

4.75 mm 25

600 micron 8

300 micron 5

75 micron 0
 CEMENT STABILISED SUB- BASE
(Contd.)

• CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS

 Similar to lime stabilised sub-base

 The compaction of cement stabilised

material is to be completed within 2 hours
Table 5 Quality control tests and their frequencies
Test Frequency (min.)

Quality of lime/Cement One test for each consignment

subject to a minimum of one test
per 5 tonnes

Degree of pulverisation Periodically as necessary

CBR or Unconfined As required

compressive strength on a
set of 3 specimens

Moisture content prior to One test per 250 Sq.m

compaction

Density of compacted layer One test per 500 m2

Deleterious constituents As required

 DISCUSSION

PRACTICAL FEASIBILITY OF
CONSTRUCTION OF STABILISED
SUB-BASE LAYER
Cement stabilised Municipal Waste
as Sub-Base
 Processed municipal waste for
construction of stabilised sub-base
construction
 Good performance of test track

Construction of
cement
stabilised
municipal
wastes
 GRANULAR SUB_BASE /STABILISED
SUB- BASE (Lime/Cement)
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Granular Sub base
 Plasticity Index (PI)

• Stabilised Sub Base

 Proper mixing of lime/cement with soil
 Stabilisation should be done when the
temperature is less than 10oC
 Compaction of the stabilised material should be
completed within 3 hours in case of lime
stabilisation and 2 hours incase of cemet stabilisation
 Material Specifications, Quality
control tests for Granular Bases
 Water Bound Macadam
• Materials
 Aggregates
 Screening
 Binding material

• Aggregates
– Crushed or broken stone
– Crushed slag
– Overburnt brick aggregates
 Water Bound Macadam(Contd.)
Size Range/Grade IS sieve, mm % by weight
passing
90 mm to 45 mm(Grade 1) 125 100
90 90-100
63 25-60
45 0-15
22.4 0-5

63 mm to 45 mm (Grade 2) 90 100
63 90-100
53 25-75
45 0-15
22.4 0-5

53 mm to 22.4 mm (Grade 3) 63 100

53 95-100
45 65-90
22.4 0-10
11.2 0-5
 Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

Quality Control Tests for Aggregates

Sl.No. Test Relevant code Frequency of test

3
1. Aggregate Impact IS:2386 : Part - 4 1 test / 200 m
Value or Los
Angeles Abrasion
Value
3
2. Aggregate As per MOST 1 test / 100 m
Gradation
3
3. Combined IS:2386 : Part - 1 1 test / 200 m
Flakiness and
Elongation Indices
3
4 Atterberg Limits of IS:2720 : Part - 5 1 test / 25 m
binding material
Construction of WBM (Contd.)

Jaw and cone crushers

Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

Hard Aggregates

Weak Soft Aggregates

 Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)
Grading of screenings

Grading Size of IS sieve % passing

classification screenings
A 13.2 mm 13.2 mm 100
11.2 mm 95-100
5.6 mm 15-35
180 micron 0-10

B 11.2 mm 11.2 mm 100

5.6 mm 90-100
180 micron 15-35
 Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)
Quantity of screenings
Coarse Aggregates Screenings
Classifi Compacted Loose Classificat Loose
cation thickness quantity ion quantity
Grade 1 100 mm 1.21 to Type A 0.27 to 0.30
1.43 m3 13.2 mm m3
Grade 2 75 mm 0.91 to Type A 0.12 to 0.15
1.07 m3 13.2 mm m3

Type B 0.20 to
11.2 mm 0.22 m3

Grade 3 75 mm 0.91 to Type B 0.18 to 0.21

1.07 m3 11.2 mm m3
Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

Construction operations
• Preparation of sub base to specified
crossfall
• Provision of inverted choke
• Spreading of coarse aggregates
• Rolling
• Application of screenings
• Application of binding material
• Setting and drying
Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

Spreading of stone metal

Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

WBM surface (Grade II) with screenings and

application of binder
 Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

WBM Grade III before application of screenings

Close View of WBM Grade II
Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)

Finishing of WBM surface

Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)
DONT’S

Inadequate compaction due to services

 Water Bound Macadam (Contd.)
DONT’S

Rolling of Aggregates on Application of Excess

soft subgrade binder
 WET MIX MACADAM
• Wet mix macadam – single grading
specified
• Prepared using WMM plant
• Laying at site – using grader or paver
• Better quality material as compared to
WBM
• Normally recommended on all NH
projects
Wet Mix Macadam (Contd.)

Grading Requirements
 Wet Mix Macadam (Contd.)
Physical requirements of aggregates for
WBM/WMM
 Wet Mix Macadam (Contd.)

Construction operations

• Preparation of mix
• Spreading of mix
• Compaction
• Setting and drying
WET MIX MACADAM PLANT

Preparation of mix in WMM Plant

 Construction of Wet Mix Macadam
(Contd.)

Laying of hard shoulder

Hard shoulder with WMM
before laying WMM
Wet Mix Macadam (Contd)

Sprading of WMM
 Wet Mix Macadam on approach fly over
(Contd.)

Compaction of WMM with a Finished surface

Vibratory roller
Wet Mix Macadam (Contd.)

Quality Control Tests

Sl.No. Test Frequency of test

3
1. Aggregate Impact 1 test / 200 m
Value or Los
Angeles Abrasion
Value
3
2. Aggregate 1 test / 100 m
Gradation
3
3. Combined 1 test / 200 m
Flakiness and
Elongation Indices
3
4 Atterberg Limits 1 test / 100 m
2
5. Density of 1 test / 500 m
compacted layer
 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS OF BASE
COURSE

• Material requirements as discussed earlier

• Min thickness 225 mm (traffic < 2 msa)

• Min thickness 250 mm (traffic > 2 msa) may

be increased to 300 mm depending on the
traffic (> 10 msa)
 Wet Mix Macadam (Contd.)

Booming of Base surface before Prime coat

PPP PROJECT (BOT TOLL)
 PPP Project (BOT TOLL)

Overhead Variable Message Signboard

PPP PROJECT (BOT Toll (Contd.)

Emergency call boxes and Antiglare

blocks
 Any Laboratory/Field Problem
Free to Contact:
Dr. Vikram Kumar
Director
Central Road Research Institute
Delhi- Mathura Road, P.O.CRRI
New Delhi - 110 020
Fax : 91 11 6845943 Dr. Vasant G.Havanagi
Scientist,GTE division
Central Road Research Institute
Delhi- Mathura Road, P.O.CRRI
New Delhi - 110 020
Ph. 26842612, 9911378492(R)
E-mail [email protected]