• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.89-105
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• 2022

The behavior of the soil subgrade is complex and irregular against loads. When modeling, the soil is often replaced by a more straightforward system called a subgrade model. The Winkler method of linear elastic springs is a popular method of soil modeling in which the spring constant shows the modulus of subgrade reaction. In this research, the factors affecting the distribution of the modulus of subgrade reaction of elastoplastic subgrades are examined. For this purpose, critical theories about the modulus of subgrade reaction were examined. A square raft foundation on a sandy soil subgrade with was analyzed at different internal friction angles and Young's modulus values using ABAQUS software. To accurately model the actual soil behavior, the elastic, perfectly plastic constitutive model was applied to investigate a foundation on discrete springs. In order to increase the accuracy of soil modeling, equations have been proposed for the distribution of the subgrade reaction modulus. The constitutive model of the springs is elastic, perfectly plastic. It was observed that the modulus of subgrade reaction under an elastic load decreased when moving from the corner to the center of the foundation. For the ultimate load, the modulus of subgrade reaction increased as it moved from the corner to the center of the foundation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.757-774
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• 2017

The subgrade reaction modulus of a large mat foundation was investigated by using a numerical analysis and a field case study. The emphasis was on quantifying the appropriate method for determining the subgrade reaction modulus for the design of a flexible mat foundation. A series of 3D non-linear FE analyses are conducted with special attention given to the subgrade reaction modulus under various conditions, such as the mat width, mat shape, mat thickness, and soil condition. It is shown that the distribution of the subgrade reaction modulus is non-uniform and that the modulus of subgrade reaction at both the corners and edges should be stiffer than that at the center. Based on the results obtained, a simple modification factor for the subgrade reaction modulus is proposed depending on the relative positions within the foundation in weathered soil and rocks.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.10 no.3 s.40
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• pp.264-270
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• 2007

Two modulus, strain modulus $(E_v)$ and subgrade reaction modulus $(K_{30})$ are being used as a standard for bearing stiffness in Korea Railroad design. The first is used in Europe and the other is used in Japan. The methodologies to obtain the two modulus are similar in using plate. But testing methods are different in loading to plate. Therefore, according to soil strain range, there should be large gap in not only computations of deformation modulus but also the necessary time to test. At first, this paper focuses on the two kinds of test methods to evaluate bearing stiffness. Secondly, based on elastic theory, the theory to obtain the two coefficients are studied thoroughly. Finally, the correlations between the two coefficients were analyzed and evaluated based on the field test results more than 38 places. The matching values for subgrade and ground between $K_{30}$ and $E_{v2}$ are proposed with the consideration of the proposed strain reduction factor (1.5 for subgrade and 3 for ground) and safety factor, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.255-262
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• 2000

Shaking table tests were peformed to evaluate the subgrade reaction of ground according to the build-up of pore water pressure. Model pile was installed in the sand ground. The acceleration of the model ground, the pore water pressure build-up and displacement of pile were recorded by measuring devices. Subgrade reaction approach based on Winker soil model was applied to obtain the modulus of the horizontal subgrade reaction. The results of analysis show that the reduction factor of the subgrade reaction due to pore pressure increase is about 1 and the horizontal subgrade reaction of liquefied ground is not influenced by the stiffness of pile, a ground acceleration and the intial ground density.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2008

Resilient modulus has been used for characterizing the stress-strain behavior of subgrade soils subjected to traffic loadings. With the recent release of the M-E Design Guide, highway agencies are further encouraged to implement the resilient modulus test to improve subgrade design. The subgrade design for the trackbed, however, is primarily relying on the static test results such as $K_{30}$ and deformation modulus, Ev. Therefore applicability of the resilient modulus for the design of trackbed needs to be evaluated. In this study, physical property tests, unconfined compressive tests and resilient modulus tests were conducted to assess the resilient and permanent strain behavior of 14 cohesive subgrade soils. A predictive model for estimating the resilient modulus is proposed based on the results of unconfined compressive tests and tangent elastic modulus, unconfined compressive strength, failure strain, secant modulus at peak, and yield strain. The predicted resilient moduli using the predictive models compared satisfactorily with measured ones. Although the permanent strain occurs during the resilient modulus test, the permanent behavior of subgrade soils is currently not taken into consideration.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.71-77
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• 2010

Anti-freezing layer does not used in case of non frost heaving in subgrade soils. In this case, the modulus of subgrade soils were varied with freezing and thaw cycles under non frost heaving. That effect should be properly considered in pavement design. Impact resonance test that is nondestructive testing method was used for continuously determining the modulus of subgrade soils during freezing and thaw cycle. The modulus of subgrade soils was identical with freezing and thaw cycles under closed freezing and thaw system which is no water supplement into specimen during testing. There was also no difference in the modulus of subgrade soil between before and after freezing-thaw cycles for all specimens with different water content and density. That is thaw-weakening of subgrade soils do not occur under closed freezing and thaw system. The moduli at freezing conditions are varied with water content and density, but it can be ignored in practical design sense.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

PURPOSES : It is to evaluate lightweight soil as a subgrade material based on mechanical tests and calculation of pavement performance. METHODS : In this research, various contents of cement and air foam are used to make lightweight soil using wasted dredged soil. Uniaxial compressive strength test is conducted to evaluate strength of 7 and 28 day cured specimens. Secant modulus was calculated based on the stress and strain relationship of uniaxial compressive strength test. Resilient modulus test was measured using by repeated triaxial compression test. The measured resilient modulus was used in layered elastic program to predict fatigue and rutting life at a given pavement structure. RESULTS : Uniaxial compressive strength increases as cement content increases but decrease as air foam content increases. Resilient modulus also increases as cement content increases and decrease as air foam content decrease. CONCLUSIONS : It is concluded that dredge clay soil can be used as subgrade layer material using by lightweight treated soil method.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.2 s.28
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• pp.87-93
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• 2006

To evaluate the deformational characteristics of subgrade soils, four subgrade samples in Korea were tested using the RC and TS tests with various dry unit weight and water content. Both the maximum modulus and normalized modulus reduction curves of subgrade soils were affected by the dry unit weight. The normalized modulus was decreased about 20% with increasing of relative compaction of 5%. It was founded that the variations of modulus of subgrade soils in Korea were over 40% with water content variation of $\pm$2%, and those effects can be estimated by exponential model. However, the normalized modulus reduction curves were almost identical and independent of water content. It was also founded that confining pressure, loading frequency, dry unit weight, and water content have an affect on modulus of subgrade soils independently. Therefore, it can be considered that those effects are independent variables.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.57-67
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• 2008

Two test methods, nonrepetitive plate loading test (NPLT) and repetitive plate loading test (RPLT) are being used to control the quality of compaction through the evaluation of the stiffness of subgrade soils in the Korea railway industry. Subgrade reaction modulus ($k_{30}$) from the NPLT and strain modulus ($E_v$) from the RPLT are the index values to check them. The methods have similar aspects, but they differ in the modulus evaluation method, the numbers of loading stage, termination procedures, etc. This paper analyses the differences of the two test methods and evaluates the relationship between subgrade reaction modulus and strain modulus. In order to develop the relationship, total 22 tests were performed including the NPLT and the RPLT at the 6 original grounds, and 5 upper or lower subgrades in Kyungbu High Speed Railway II stage construction sites. According to the soil conditions, the relationship between subgrade reaction modulus and strain modulus was proposed with corrections by considering strain states, mean confining pressures, and Poisson's ratio.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.17-23
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• 2009

Deformational characteristics of subgrade soils are very important input parameters for pavement design. It is necessary to make an amount of effort to estimate experimentally the modulus of subgrade soils. In case of designing simple (or lower level) pavement section, the estimation of the modulus based on experiments must cause an excessive cost. It has proposed various empirical correlation models to estimate the modulus from basic properties of the materials or more simple alternative tests. Seven subgrade soils in Korea were tested in this study. It was founded that the deformational characteristics of subgrade soils in Korea has a close relation to strength characteristics, the empirical correlation model was proposed. There was a close relation between cohesion value and modulus at low confining stress ($r^2=0.93$). By comparing with the measured modulus and the modulus determined by proposed correlation model from strength characteristics, the value of the coefficient of determination ($r^2$) is 0.75.