Plate bearing test in existing road

[Okiryu]

Hi, do you do plate bearing tests for existing roads? For example, I have an existing flexible pavement which will be demolished to install a new rigid pavement, so the client is asking to cut the existing pavement to do the test there. However, there is turf area just next to the shoulders and I would prefer to do the test at the turf area rather than underneath the existing pavement. Larger "k" values may be expected at the existing pavement since has already received traffic. Do you have similar experience? Is my assumption correct?

 

[Ron]

It would be better to run the test in the roadway, since those are the conditions for which your design must be responsive. Running the test outside the roadway will likely yield overly conservative results.

Given that; however, the difference in modulus of subgrade reaction value will not result in a significant thickness difference in the pavement.

 

[BigH]

I agree with Ron - do it in the road . . . in the turf area, you might not have the same pavement layering as to carry subbase and base out over a turf area is costly . . . stay within your road limits.

 

[Okiryu]

Ron, thanks for the reply. The new rigid pavement will extend also to the turf areas. I agree that the difference in "k" will not afffect significantly in the thickness of the pavement, but just want to avoid 2 different "k" values for the design... in addition doing the test at turf areas requires much less effort for restoration to existing conditions...

 

[Okiryu]

To clarify: when I said 2 different "k" values is beacuse we are doing another plate test at turf area. Thanks again for your replies.