Resilient Modulus

The Resilient Modulus ($M_{R}$) is a measure of subgrade material stiffness. A material's resilient modulus is actually an estimate of its modulus of elasticity (E). While the modulus of elasticity is stress divided by strain for a slowly applied load, resilient modulus is stress divided by strain for rapidly applied loads – like those experienced by pavements.

Resilient modulus is determined using the triaxial test. The test applies a repeated axial cyclic stress of fixed magnitude, load duration and cycle duration to a cylindrical test specimen. While the specimen is subjected to this dynamic cyclic stress, it is also subjected to a static confining stress provided by a triaxial pressure chamber. It is essentially a cyclic version of a triaxial compression test; the cyclic load application is thought to more accurately simulate actual traffic loading.

Calculator

CBR to resilient modulus

1993 AASHTO Guide · MEPDG

Units

US customary SI (metric)

California bearing ratio, CBR

CalculateExample values. Your agency’s specification sets the limits.

@misc{pavint-resilient-modulus,
  author = {{Pavement Interactive}},
  title = {Resilient Modulus},
  year = {2018},
  publisher = {HeadLight},
  howpublished = {\url{https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/design/design-parameters/resilient-modulus/}},
  note = {Accessed [date]}
}