Numerical analysis of pavement structure on expansive subgrade stabilized with surcharge pressure

Abstract. Soils swell upon wetting and shrink when drying. This behavior can sustain damage to structures, particularly, light buildings and roads. The phenomenon is exciting to be researched, how far the effect of water contents is towards the behavior of free swelling of expansive soils. The aim study of this investigation is to discuss the findings on analysis results of pavement structure constructed on a relatively expansive material stabilized by an application of surcharge pressure. Samples were taken to the laboratory from the subgrade of a deteriorated road. The soils were classified as medium plasticity with medium to high expansion potential. The free swell oedometer test indicated a volumetric strain v = 0.12 % with a swelling pressure of 520 kPa. An adequate surcharge pressure was used according to the procedure described in the paper to stabilize the deformations induced by the subgrade. The load-displacement behavior of expansive subgrade soil is studied using the Software PLAXIS 3D. After simulation, it was observed that the swelling deformations were considerably reduced by 263% without any cracks in the pavement.