Stress characteristics of coarsely processed crushed (cobbled ) stone subgrade materials based on large-scale triaxial tests

Authors

• Xu Zuoqian, Anhui Transportation Holding Engineering Group Co ., Ltd., Hefei , Anhui 230091 , ChinaFollow
• Shan Jingsong, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture , Shandong University of Science and Technology , Qingdao , Shandong 266590 , ChinaFollow
• Wu Shoukun, Anhui Transportation Holding Engineering Group Co ., Ltd., Hefei , Anhui 230091 , China
• Zhao Mi, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture , Shandong University of Science and Technology , Qingdao , Shandong 266590 , China
• Guo Ling, Anhui Transportation Holding Engineering Group Co ., Ltd., Hefei , Anhui 230091 , China
• Geng Haiyang, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture , Shandong University of Science and Technology , Qingdao , Shandong 266590 , China

Corresponding Author

单景松，男，博士，教授.E-mail：[email protected]

Abstract

Large-scale static triaxial tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of coarsely processed crushed (cobbled ) stone subgrade materials and refine engineering design parameters. Standard test specimens measuring 30 cm in diameter and 60 cm in height were prepared, and 18 test conditions were set, including three aggregate content levels (60%, 70%, and 80%) and three confining pressures (30 kPa, 45 kPa, and 60 kPa ), to test the stress and deformation characteristics of crushed (cobbled ) stone subgrade materials in various conditions. By taking the Xuancheng‒Jingxian Expressway as the research object, this paper monitored and analyzed the compressive stresses at different depths of the subgrade. Furthermore, a simulation model of the pavement structure was built based on the road structure and test load conditions to compare and verify the simulation results against field test data. The test results indicate that under static loading, crushed (cobbled ) stone materials exhibit strain-hardening behavior, with stress-strain curves following a hyperbolic distribution pattern that can be fitted by adopting the Duncan-Chang model parameters. The stone content significantly affects the shear strength of crushed (cobbled ) stone materials:as the stone content increases, the internal friction angle and cohesion of the crushed (cobbled ) stone materials rise significantly, and the shear performance of coarsely processed crushed stone is superior to that of coarsely processed cobbled stone. The additional dynamic stress in the subgrade increases significantly with vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed increases from 40 km/h to 80 km/h, the maximum additional dynamic stress at the subgrade surface rises from 12.41 kPa to 19.45 kPa, representing an increase of 56.73%. The compressive stress in the subgrade continuously decreases with depth, and the overall stress level is relatively low. This study ultimately proposes recommended design modulus values for coarsely processed crushed (cobbled ) stone subgrade materials, which can provide a reference for the engineering design and application of expressway subgrade.

Publication Date

10-29-2026

DOI

10.14048/j.issn.1671-2579.2026.05.010

First Page

93

Last Page

102

Submission Date

October 2026

Recommended Citation

Zuoqian, Xu; Jingsong, Shan; Shoukun, Wu; Mi, Zhao; Ling, Guo; and Haiyang, Geng (2026) "Stress characteristics of coarsely processed crushed (cobbled ) stone subgrade materials based on large-scale triaxial tests," Journal of China & Foreign Highway: Vol. 46: Iss. 5, Article 10.
DOI: 10.14048/j.issn.1671-2579.2026.05.010
Available at: https://zwgl1980.csust.edu.cn/journal/vol46/iss5/10

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