ABSTRACT
This article presents a model for the permanent deformation (PD) behavior of unbound granular materials (UGMs) used in the base and subbase layers of pavement structures. The model was developed based on multistage (MS) repeated load triaxial (RLT) testing. This is essentially a modified version of a previously developed model to better suit to field conditions in a simple and effective manner. The model was calibrated for eight commonly used UGMs using MSRLT tests with a range of moisture contents. For validation, the calibrated models were used to predict the PD behavior of three of the UGMs in MSRLT tests with stress levels and moisture contents different from those used during the calibrations. This model showed better quality of fit when compared with another widely used PD model. The model was further tested successfully for field conditions by capturing the PD behavior of an instrumented pavement test section in a controlled environment using a heavy vehicle simulator (HVS) based accelerated pavement testing (APT). Inputs for calibrating the model were based on the readings from the instrumentations. The parameters of the model were adjusted to match the measured data with the predictions. Based on these results for various design conditions, some ranges of values of the material parameters of the model were suggested.
