Resilient Modulus Testing
Resilient Modulus (Mr) is a fundamental material property used to characterize unbound pavement materials. It is a measure of material stiffness and provides a mean to analyze stiffness of materials under different conditions, such as moisture, density and stress level. It is also a required input parameter to mechanistic-empirical pavement design method. Mr is typically determined through laboratory tests by measuring stiffness of a cylinder specimen subject to a cyclic axle load. Mr is defined as a ratio of applied axle deviator stress and axle recoverable strain. Learn about the MnDOT Resilient Modulus Testing Protocol and Data Quality Control Criteria.
Benefits of Mr testing
- Measure of fundamental material property
- Dynamic load testing similar to traffic loading
- Essential input in mechanistic-empirical pavement design
Mr summaries
- Resilient Modulus - Lab Testing Brief (PDF)
- Can Cone Penetration Testing Measure the Resilient Modulus of Soils? (PDF)
- Measuring the Material Properties of Aggregate Base Containing Recycled Materials (PDF)
Field modulus measurements
- Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD)
- Intelligent Compaction (IC)
Active projects
- Best Value Granular Material for Road Foundations
- Subgrade Stabilization ME Properties Evaluation and Implementation Proposal (PDF)
Completed projects - not yet published
- Hydraulic, Mechanical, and Leaching Characteristics of Recycled Materials
- Use of Fly Ash for Construction of Bituminous Roads
Resilient Modulus Publications
- Investigation of Stripping in Minnesota Class 7 (RAP) and Full-Depth Reclamation Base Materials Report (PDF)
- Pavement Design Using Unsaturated Soil Technology
- Resilient Modulus and Strength of Base Course With Recycled Bituminous Material
- Moisture Effects on PVD and DCP Measurements Report (PDF)
- Preliminary Laboratory Investigation of Enzyme Solutions as a Soil Stabilizer Report (PDF)
- Small Strain and Resilient Modulus Testing of Granular Soils Report (PDF)
- A Laboratory Technique for Estimating the Resilient Modulus of Unsaturated Soil Specimens from CBR and Unconfined Compression Tests Report (PDF)
- Resilient Modulus of Minnesota Road Research Project Subgrade Soil Report
- Resilient Modulus Testing of Materials from MnROAD, Phase I Report
Contacts
- Shongtao Dai, shongtao.dai@dot.state.mn.us