BRAGA, Mayla Estrela.
Abstract:
The geotechnical study of soils plays a fundamental role in the pavement process. It is
essential for evaluating the soil characteristics and determining its bearing capacity, stability,
and behavior under traffic loads, resulting in durable, safe, and cost-effective pavement
while minimizing long-term maintenance issues and costs. The present study was
conducted on soil from a housing development located in Sousa, Paraíba, Brazil. The
methodology used was based on the traditional geotechnical classification of soils, aiming
to assess their suitability for pavement layers based on the results obtained from
geotechnical tests conducted. These tests allowed the determination of important
characteristics such as grain size distribution, plastic limit, liquid limit, compaction, and
material strength as measured by the California Bearing Ratio. The analysis of the results
revealed that the majority of the soil consists of sand with the presence of fines such as silt
and clay. Plasticity values indicated that the samples ranged from non-plastic to highly
plastic. The CBR test results indicated that some samples do not provide suitable material
for use in pavement layers. This study enabled the geotechnical characterization of the soil
in the specific location and highlighted the need for improvements for its use in road
pavement.
