Moisture influence on the resilient deformation behaviour of unbound granular materials

The influence of moisture on the resilient deformation properties of unbound granular materials was investigated based on repeated load triaxial tests. Results showed that the resilient modulus (MR) decreased with increasing moisture for a relatively low number of load cycles (N) where the deformation behaviour was mostly resilient with a negligible amount of associated accumulated permanent deformation (PD). Modelling attempts on this behaviour were quite satisfactory. Furthermore, the MR showed an increasing trend with increasing moisture, up to the optimum, when the N was relatively large with a significant amount of accumulated PD. Above the optimum, the MR generally decreased. Further investigation suggested that moisture aided the post-compaction (PC) and possible particle rearrangement that resulted in the increased PD and increased MR. The existing model did not work in this case indicating that the effect of PC on MR should be considered in modelling.