Field Evaluation of Compaction Characteristics and Resilient Modulus of Subgrade Using In-situ Modulus Detector

Hong Ju Kim; Dong Geon Son; Yong-Hoon Byun; Jong-Sub Lee; Dong-Ju Kim

doi:10.5389/KSAE.2026.68.2.025

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Field Evaluation of Compaction Characteristics and Resilient Modulus of Subgrade Using In-situ Modulus Detector 원위치 강성분석기를 이용한 현장 노상토의 다짐특성 및 회복탄성계수의 평가

2026. pp. 25-32

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Abstract

The resilient modulus of a subgrade is a critical parameter in pavement design, particularly under repetitive wheel loading induced by vehicle movement. In this study, an in-situ modulus detector (IMD) and a dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) are employed to perform field tests on compacted subgrades. The subgrade is prepared at three levels of relative compaction by applying 2, 4, and 6 passes of a roller compactor. The IMD is used to estimate the in-situ resilient modulus, while the DCP is utilized to compare the penetration indices with the IMD results. Experimental results show that the in-situ resilient modulus obtained from the IMD increases with the penetration depth. In addition, the penetration depth per blow from both the IMD and DCP tests decreased with increasing relative compaction and penetration depth. A robust linear correlation is observed between the resilient modulus and relative compaction, showing a high coefficient of determination. These findings suggest that the IMD can serve as an effective tool for evaluating the in-situ resilient modulus of subgrade during site investigations, considering influencing factors such as relative compaction and penetration depth.

Keywords

In-situ test

penetration index

relative compaction

resilient modulus

subgrade

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국농공학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국농공학회논문집
Volume : 68
No :2
Pages :25-32
Received Date : 2025-11-03
Revised Date : 2025-12-09
Accepted Date : 2025-12-09
DOI :https://doi.org/10.5389/KSAE.2026.68.2.025

Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers ISSN:1738-3692(Print) 2093-7709(Online) 한국농공학회논문집

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