Road Research

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
  • Work Plan (PDF)
  • Presentation (PDF)
• 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
  • Report (PDF)
  • Technical Summary (PDF)
  • Presentation (PDF)
• Resilient Modulus and Strength of Base Course With Recycled Bituminous Material
  • Report
  • Technical Summary (PDF)
• 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