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Repeated load triaxial (RLT) testing for pavement materials

Published: | Category: Construction , Pavement & surfacing , Specifications | Audience: Roading contractors

T15 is an aggregate testing specification, its purpose is to standardise the test conditions used in the repeat load triaxial test. It does not set limits for materials. It provides an estimate of overall aggregate performance, which is not obtainable from the current suite of NZ Transport Agency tests that focus on pass/fail requirements.

T15 is a relatively simple test that can be used in pavement rehabilitation investigations and new pavement design, to highlight the risk of premature rutting caused by shear in unbound granular pavements. The test is the result of a number of NZ Transport Agency Research Reports including reports Nos: 429, 451, and 214.

The development of the testing procedure was validated at the Canterbury Accelerated Pavement Testing Indoor Facility (CAPTIF). Research showed that the RLT using Transport Agency T15 specification could identify the loading limits for granular materials.

Publication details

  • Author:
  • Published: 19 December 2014
  • Also known as: T15