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An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614079753912320 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Nel, Guillaume Pieter |
| author2 | Jenkins, Kim Jonathan |
| author_browse | Jenkins, Kim Jonathan Nel, Guillaume Pieter |
| author_facet | Jenkins, Kim Jonathan Nel, Guillaume Pieter |
| author_sort | Nel, Guillaume Pieter |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134735 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:20.037Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134735 An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships Nel, Guillaume Pieter Jenkins, Kim Jonathan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Shear strength of soils Road materials -- Testing Granular materials -- Permeability Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Nel, G. P. 2025. An Investigation of Shear Strength of G2 Material with Emphasis on Density and Moisture Relationships. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d37a23c7-845d-430a-b531-196751e4992a ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The longevity and sustained performance of a nation’s road network are directly dependent on the quality of the Unbound Granular Materials (UGMs) used in its construction. However, current empirical design methods and conventional laboratory tests for UGMs, which often use scaled-down specimens, fail to accurately predict in-service performance under realistic conditions. Key limitations include specimen size constraints, which exclude large aggregate particles, and a lack of correlation between laboratory and field compaction efforts. This research, part of a South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) initiative, aims to address these limitations by utilising both standard or “scaled” traditional triaxial equipment and specialised large-scale triaxial equipment to better characterise UGM behaviour. Historically, the classification of UGMs has relied on empirical physical properties, which provide limited insight into their long-term performance under repeated traffic loads. This research seeks to introduce a more robust, performance-based characterisation framework by focusing on shear strength and resilient modulus (Mr) parameters obtained from triaxial testing. Progress has been made in this regard, with all testing undertaken at Stellenbosch University using both standard (150 mm Ø × 300 mm h) and large (300 mm Ø × 600 mm h) specimen moulds. This research provides a consolidated record of the triaxial testing performed on Class G2 material. Monotonic (static) triaxial test results on standard specimens were extended to include results from the large-scale moulds, which can accommodate the full G2 grading. The use of this specialised equipment aimed for improved and more realistic compaction and facilitates a stronger link between monotonic and dynamic loading conditions. The research investigates the performance of the G2 material under varying compaction (98% and 100% of Maximum Dry Density) and moisture content (below, at, and above Optimum Moisture Content) conditions. The research evaluated key performance parameters, including shear strength (C and φ) from static testing and the Resilient Modulus (Mr) from dynamic testing. The findings aim to establish correlations between these performance-based parameters and provide insights into the influence of large aggregates and a more realistic test setup. By using standard laboratory equipment and specialised large-scale equipment, this research aims to improve UGM classification, refine existing triaxial testing protocols, and inform future research on enhancing the design and longevity of South Africa’s road infrastructure. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die langtermynprestasie en duursaamheid van padplaveisels, wat oorwegend met ongebonden granulêre materiale (OGM'e) gebou word, is van uiterste belang vir nasionale infrastruktuur. Huidige empiriese ontwerpsmetodes en konvensionele laboratoriumtoetse vir OGM'e, wat dikwels afgeskaalde monsters gebruik, is egter onsuksesvol daarin om in-diens prestasie onder realisese toestande akkuraat te voorspel. Sleutelbeperkings sluit in monstergrooebeperkings, wat groot aggregaatdeeltjies uitsluit, en 'n gebrek aan korrelasie tussen laboratorium- en veldverdigngspogings. Hierdie navorsing, deel van 'n SANRAL-inisiaef, poog om hierdie beperkings aan te spreek. Dit sal die gedrag van OGM's beter karakteriseer deur die gebruik van beide standaard- en gespesialiseerde grootskaalse triaksiale toerusng. Histories het die klassifikasie van OGM'e op empiriese fisiese eienskappe staatgemaak, wat beperkte insig in hul langtermynprestasie onder herhaalde verkeersladings verskaf het. Hierdie projek, soos uiteengesit in die aanvangverslag van Junie 2021, poog om 'n meer robuuste, prestasiegebaseerde karakteriseringsraamwerk in te stel deur te fokus op skuifsterkte- en resiliente modulusparameters wat uit triaksiale toetse verkry word. Vordering is in hierdie verband gemaak, met alle toetse wat by die Universiteit Stellenbosch onderneem is met beide standaard (150 mm Ø x 300 mm h) en groot (300 mm Ø x 600 mm h) monstervorms. Hierdie tesis bied 'n gekonsolideerde rekord van die triaksiale toetse wat op Klas G2-materiaal uitgevoer is. Monotoniese (staese) triaksiale toetsresultate op standaardmonsters is uitgebrei om resultate van die grootskaalse vorms, wat die volle G2-gradering kan akkommodeer, in te sluit. Die gebruik van hierdie gespesialiseerde toerusng was daarop gemik om verbeterde en meer realisese verdigng te bewerkstellig en 'n sterker skakel tussen monotoniese en dinamiese ladingstoestande te fasiliteer. Die studie ondersoek die prestasie van die G2-materiaal onder wisselende verdigngstoestande (98% en 100% van Maksimum Droë Digtheid) en voginhoud (onder, by en bo Opmale Voginhoud). Die navorsing het sleutelprestasieparameters geëvalueer, insluitend skuifsterkte (C en ϕ) van staese toetse en die Resiliente Modulus (Mr) van dinamiese toetse. Die bevindinge is daarop gemik om korrelasies tussen hierdie prestasiegebaseerde parameters te vesg en insigte te verskaf oor die invloed van groot aggregate en 'n meer realisese toetsopstelling. Deur gebruik te maak van standard laboratoriumtoerusng en gespesialiseerde grootskaalse toerusng, poog hierdie studie om OGMklassifikasie te verbeter, bestaande triaksiale toetsprotokolle te verfyn, en toekomsge navorsing oor die verbetering van die ontwerp en lewensduur van Suid-Afrika se padinfrastruktuur in te lig. Masters 2026-01-06T07:07:44Z 2026-01-06T07:07:44Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134735 Stellenbosch University xxi, 212 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Shear strength of soils Road materials -- Testing Granular materials -- Permeability Nel, Guillaume Pieter An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title | An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title_full | An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title_fullStr | An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title_full_unstemmed | An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title_short | An investigation of shear strength of G2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| title_sort | investigation of shear strength of g2 material with emphasis on density and moisture relationships |
| topic | Shear strength of soils Road materials -- Testing Granular materials -- Permeability |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134735 |
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