76
Methylene Blue Test of Soil Properties: A Rapid and Accurate Field Test Robert L. Lytton Hakan Sahin Houston Foundation Performance Association December 10 th , 2014
Methylene Blue Test of Soil Properties:
A Rapid and Accurate Field Test
Robert L. Lytton
Hakan Sahin
Houston Foundation Performance Association
December 10th, 2014
2
Questions
What is “Methylene Blue”?
Has it been used as a soil test?
Are there standard specifications for using
“Methylene Blue”?
What equipment is needed to make a
measurement of “Methylene Blue” content?
3
Questions
What is a Per-co-meter?
What can you measure with it?
How can you use a “Methylene Blue” test
together with a “Percometer” test?
4
Questions
Methylene Blue is a large organic molecule that
attaches to the surface of a soil particle.
The amount of Methylene Blue that is adsorbed
by soil measures the specific surface area of that
soil.
5
Base Course Aggregate
AASHTO T 330-07 Methylene Blue Scale
6
Methylene Blue Equipment
Weig
ht
Bala
nce
Hach
DR
Colo
rim
ete
r
Tim
er
Pla
stic
Tube
Mic
ropip
ett
e
Sm
all
tub
e
Syringe
Syringe
filter
Eyedro
pper
Meth
yle
ne
Blu
e
Solu
tion
7
Grace Methylene Blue Test
Weigh 20g of sample***and 30g MB solution.
Mix them and shake for 5 min.
Take solution into syringe that has 2 micrometer
filter.
Dilute the 130 mL aliquot with distilled water
to accurately total 45 g.
Fill the glass tube with the diluted solution
and place in the colorimeter.
Place cover over the glass tube and take a
reading. MB Reading will display in couple
seconds.
Replace the plunger and push solution to filter
into a 1 mL plastic tube.
Determine the percent clay based on MB value
from the C-shaped figure.
8
9
HORIBA Particle Size Distribution Analyzer
• Particle size distribution curve
of passing No. 200 sieve
• Total measurement time is
less than 10 min
• Typical test result of a
soil sample
• Determine size of 2 μm
particle
10
What is pfc?
Percent Fines Content
2100
#200
mpfc
Percent passing
No.200 sieve
Percent passing
2 micrometer
percent
fines
content
11
The Relationship Between MBV and pfc
0.00
5.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00
Met
hy
len
e B
lue
Va
lue
(mg
/g)
Percent Fines Content (%)
Measured Data Points pfc Modeled Plot MBV=7.0 Critical Point Line
Zone II
Zone I
R2=0.79
12
“C” Shaped Curve Equation
n
apfc b MBV
MBV
Coefficient parameters
depend on soil type
Methylene Blue
Value
Percent fines
content
a 28.014
b 0.8131
n 0.6288
Typical Values
13
A Good Quality Base Course
14
A Poor Quality Base Course
15
Base Course Aggregate
Grace Methylene Blue Value Scale
16
Base Course Problems in Design and
Implementation
17
Major Distresses in Pavements
Asphalt Surfaced (Flexible)
Fatigue Cracking
Rutting
Concrete Surfaced (Rigid)
Joint Faulting
Erosion and Pumping
Most major distresses start with poor support
provided by the “BASE COURSE”
18
Problems in Base Course
Pavement performance and life cycle cost
depend on the design of the base course.
Base course will perform well if the design
properties are the same as those when it is built.
Designed and constructed layer properties are
not the same.
There is a need to ensure properties of the base
course in design are close to the base course
actually placed.
19
Problems in Base Course
Layer modulus and permanent deformation
properties are directly related to pavement
performance.
Measuring layer modulus and permanent
deformation in the field have major obstacles.
20
Resilient Modulus and Permanent
Deformation Models
21
3
211
3( )
k
km octy a
a a
I fhE k P
P P
Resilient Modulus
1 2 3k ,k ,k Coefficients of resilient
modulus model
M a t r i c
S u c t i o n
O c t a h e d r a l s h e a r
s t r e s s
A t m o s p h e r i c
p r e s s u r e
11 f
S a t u r a t i o n f a c t o r
F i r s t i n v a r i a n t o f
t h e s t r e s s t e n s o r
Vo l u m e t r i c w a t e r
c o n t e n t
22
Measured and Predicted Modulus
23
Aggregate Properties and k Values
Aggregate Property k Values
k1 k2
k3
γd (Dry Density)
ω (Water Content)
MBV
pfc
Gradation aG
λG
Angularity aA
λA
Shape aS
λS
Texture aT
λT
24
Matric Suction and Water Content Measurements
, , , ,f f f ra b c h
25
Soil Dielectric Characteristics Curve
(SDCC)
26
Soil Dielectric Characteristics Curve (SDCC)
Dielectric
constant
Saturated dielectric
constant min 51.45 10
1
sat
r
m
h
x h
h
h h
Minimum dielectric
constant
Suction
Curve fitting parameters
Maximum
Suction
27
Typical Soil Dielectric Characteristic Curve
(SDCC)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00
Su
cti
on
(p
F)
Dielectric Constant Value
A Measured Dielectric by a Percometer and Measured Suction by the Filter Paper Test
A Saturated Dielectric Constant Value
A Minimum Dielectric Constant Value
Maximum Suction 1.45 105 psi
min sat
28
A Standard Percometer Device with Surface
Probe
PER-CO-METER
PERMITTIVITY-CONDUCTIVITY-METER
29
Dielectric Constant Measurements Process
with a Percometer
MaterialDielectric
Constant
Air 1.0
Water 81.0
Asphalt 4.0-6.0
Concrete 8.0-12.0
Clay 4.0-40.0
30
Filter Paper Suction Test Setup
31
Filter Paper Test: Part I
Prepare two generic soil samples by using standard
impact compaction machine.
For matric suction measurement insert a No. 589-
WH filter paper in between two larger filter paper.
Tape together the two pieces of the soil
samples.
Place two 589-WH filter paper on top of the plastic
ring on top of the samples.
Put the lid on and tape it tight to prevent
moisture lost.
Put other soil sample on top, keeping the filter
paper in between in intimate contact with soil
samples.
Insert the jar into a well insulated container for
suction equilibrium.
Tape tight to prevent any moisture
exchange between the air inside and
outside of the jar.
32
Filter Paper Test: Part II (After 1 Week)
Take the dry cold weight of the moisture tins.
Open the jar and carry the filter paper to moisture tin
using tweezers, in less than a few seconds.
(Note: This is for total suction measurement.)
Remove the filter paper that was sandwiched
between two samples. and carry into the moisture
tin.
Weigh the tin with wet filter paper inside and
note this is matric suction.
Immediately close the lid of the moisture tin with
wet filter paper and weigh the tin.
Place all tins in a hot oven at least 10 hours.
Leave the tin on aluminum block 20 seconds and
weigh with dry paper inside.
Record all the weights and calculate moisture
content of each paper for both matric and total
suction.
33
Minimum Dielectric Value
Correlation for minimum dielectric vs MBV
R² = 0.7642
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.60
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
Min
imum
Die
lect
ric
Cons
tatn
(em
in)
Methylene Blue Value (MBV)
Minimun dielectricconstant points
min 0.1243log 1.0668MBV
34
Saturated Dielectric Value
Correlation for saturated dielectric vs MBV
R² = 0.9311
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0
Satu
rate
d D
iele
ctri
c Co
nsta
tn (e
sat)
Methylene Blue Value (MBV)
Saturated dielectricconstant points
2
sat 0.0334 0.1086 12.569MBV MBV
35
A Family of Generated SDCCs
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
1.00 6.00 11.00 16.00 21.00 26.00 31.00 36.00 41.00
Suct
ion
(pF)
Dielectric Constant (er)
E-01 1-3-2-3 E-02 1-3-4
E-02 3-1-2 E-03 4-3-10
E-03 6-10-1 E-03 6-10-3
E-04 2-6 E-05 61-12
E-06 3-10 E-06 2-6
E-06 1-13 E-07 68-2-6
E-07 69-1-14 E-08 235-1-12
E-08 2-1-6 E-09 1-14
36
Matric Suction and Water Content Measurements
, , , ,f f f ra b c h
37
Soil Water Characteristics Curve
(SWCC)
38
Soil Water Characteristics Curve (SWCC)
( )
ln exp(1)
cb
sw C h
h
a
6
ln 1
( ) 110
ln 1
r
r
h
hC h
h
Fredlund and Xing Equation (1994)
Four soil parametersVolumetric
water
content
Saturated volumetric
water content
39
Typical Soil Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC)
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00
Su
cti
on
(p
F)
Volumetric Water Content (%)
Measured Suction by the Filter Paper Test
A Saturated Volumetric Water Content
Maximum Suction
θsat
40
Su
cti
on
(k
Pa
)
Water Content (%)
Generate a Soil Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC)
Measured water
content
Measured
suction
Filter paper test
41
Four Parameters
Correlations for parameters af and bf :
R² = 0.9154
3.4990
3.4995
3.5000
3.5005
3.5010
3.5015
3.5020
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
af (p
si)
MBV (mg/g)
R² = 0.7719
1.984
1.988
1.992
1.996
2.000
2.004
2.008
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00b
f
MBV (mg/g)
0.00023.4994fa MBV 0.0032.0044fb MBV
42
Four Parameters
Correlations for parameters cf and hr:
R² = 0.859
0.070
0.140
0.210
0.280
0.350
0.420
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
cf
MBV (mg/g)
R² = 0.796
19.9998
20.0000
20.0001
20.0003
20.0004
20.0006
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00h
r
MBV (mg/g)
0.4150.4956fc MBV 9.5 0620.00 E
rh xMBV
43
Saturated Volumetric Water Content
Predicted and calculated saturated volumetric
water contents:
R² = 0.9916
0.100
0.120
0.140
0.160
0.180
0.200
0.220
0.240
0.260
0.280
0.300
0.100 0.150 0.200 0.250 0.300
Cal
cula
ted
Ѳsa
t
Predicted Ѳsat
Saturated volumetricwater content datapoints
sat sat sat
sat sat sat
sat 1 2 3
1 2 3
= 0.214926485H + 0.27640261H - 0.12511932H + 0.30045553
H ,H ,and H ( and )f MBV pfc
44
A Family of Generated SWCCs
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00
Su
ctio
n (
pF
)
Volumetric Water Content (Ѳw)
E-02 1-3-4 E-02 2-3-2 E-02 3-1-2
E-03 4-3-10 E-03 6-10-1 E-03 6-10-3
E-05 61-12 E-04 1-3 E-04 2-6
E-06 1-13 E-06 2-6 E-06 3-10
E-09 1-14 E-01 1-3-2-3 E-07 68-2-6
E-07 69-1-14 E-09 2-1-6 E-09 235-1-12
45
Optimum Moisture Content
and
Compaction Curves
46
Automatic Compaction Device
• Followed Test procedure
• Tex-113 E
• Base course sample
• 6 in diameter
• 8 in height
• 4 layers
• Compaction
• 750 ft-lbs per layer
47
Compaction Curve Equation
Three fitting parameters change with soil type
csch csch
dn
d w sat w satd d
w s sat w s sat w
a bG G
Unit weight of
water
Dry unit weight
Specific
gravity
Volumetric
water
content
Saturated
volumetric water
content
48
Liquid Limit
10.00
15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00
Liq
uid
Lim
it (
%)
Methyelene Blue Value (mg/g)
Measured Data Points
90 Percent Confident Levels
LL Fitting Curve
49
Plasticity Index
1.0
6.0
11.0
16.0
21.0
26.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Pla
stic
ity
Ind
ex (
%)
Methylene Blue Value , mg/g ,(MBV)
Measured Data Points
PI Fitting Curve
90 Percent Confidence Bounds
50
Specific Gravity
0.3076 0.3525
0.3076 0.3525
1 12.55 2.91(2.43)
22 40
1 11 (2.43)
22 40
s
PI LL
PI LLG
PI LL
PI LL
Liquid Limit
Plasticity Index
Specific Gravity
51
Typical Compaction Curve as Tested in the
Laboratory and as Modeled
Optimum Moisture Content
52
Optimum Moisture Content
2 11 11 1
2 11 11 1
2 21ln 1 1 4
2
2 21ln 1 1 4
2
d d d
d d
n nn nd d
s sat
d d d d
opt
n nn nd d
sat s
d d d d
b bG
a n a n
b bG
a n a n
Optimum Moisture
Content
53
A Family of Compaction Curves
Generated compaction density-moisture curves
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0% 18.0%
Dry
Un
it W
eig
ht
(p
si)
Gravimetric Water Content
E-01 E-02 E-03
E-04 E-05 E-06
E-07 E-08 E-09
S=10% S=20% S=30% S=40% S=50% S=60% S=70% S=80% S=90% S=100%
54
A Case Study: Verification GPR and FWD
55
Test Location
Site:
Delta County, Texas
Total length:
4.5 miles (~24000 ft)
Base Course Pit:
Martin Marietta Material
Oklahoma
56
Ground Penetrating Radar Van
Vehicle-Mounted Four-Antenna Configuration for
Highway Speed Data Acquisition
57
Return Reflection at Interfaces
58
Radar Hyper Optics Animation Video
59
Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
60
Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
61
Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD)
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time ( ms )
Defle
ctio
n (
um
) &
Load (
psi)
Load
Defl--1
Defl--2
Defl--3
Defl--4
Defl--5
Defl--6
Defl--7
62
FWD Test Performing Animation Video
63
Field Measurements
Pa e hec of tware
Mo ulus of tware
ielectric onstant
ayer hic ness
Mo ulus
ielectric onstant
ayer hic ness oil uction
olumetric Water ontent
ra imetric Water ontent ry nit Weight
Ma ry nit Weight alculate Mo ulus
ielectric onstant
ayer hic ness
ayerM PP of tware
urrent roach
e elo e roach
Methylene Blue alue
64
Information from GRP
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000
GP
R d
iele
ctr
ic
feet
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000
Ba
se
th
ickn
ess (
in)
feet
Dielectric constant
Base course thickness
65
Information from GRP
Matric Suction
Volumetric Water Content
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000
Ma
tric
Su
ctio
n (
pF
)
feet
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000
Vo
lum
etr
ic W
C
feet
66
Information from GRP
Dry Density
Resilient Modulus
120
125
130
135
140
145
0 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 24000Dry
Unit W
eig
ht (lb/f
t3)
Distance (ft)
05
10152025303540
0 475 950 1425 1900 2375 2850 3325 3800
Mo
du
lus (
ksi)
Station
Predicted Resilient
Modulus
FWD Back-calculated
Resilient Modulus
67
Develop a Software Program: LayerMAPP
68
What is LayerMAPP?
Layer Measurement and Analysis of Performance
Properties (MAPP)
Methylene blue test, AIMS test and Percometer
Quality control and quality assurance supporting
layer analysis tool
69
Structures of LayerMAPP
Methylene Blue Test
pfc
Percometer Test
AIMS Test
Specific Gravity
Plasticity Index
Liquid Limit
Compaction Model
Base Course Models
Moisture Content
SWCC Model
Soil Suction
SDCC Model
Dielectric Constant Value
Perfo
rmed
Mea
sure
men
ts
70
Layer MAPP
71
Tests to be RUN In the FIELD
• MBT- Methylene Blue Value
• Percometer-Dielectric Constant Value
What Can be Measured in the Field?
• Percent Fines Content
• Gravimetric Water Content
• Volumetric Water Content
• Suction
• Dry Density
• Resilient Modulus
• Permanent Deformation
72
Test to Run in the LABORATORY PRIOR TO
Construction
1. MBV and pfc on samples of base course
2. Suction vs Dielectric constant (matric suction with
filter paper)
3. Suction vs Water volumetric content (matric suction)
4. Compaction curve (dry density vs gravimetric water
content)
5. Specific gravity of solids, Gs
6. Gradation Weilbull scale and shape coefficients
7. Aggregate Imaging System: Weibull Scale and
Shape coefficients for Form
Angularity
Texture
8. Base course diffusivity
73
Matric Suction and Water Content Measurements
, , , ,f f f ra b c h
74
Methylene Blue Equipment
Weig
ht
Bala
nce
Hach
DR
Colo
rim
ete
r
Tim
er
Pla
stic
Tube
Mic
ropip
ett
e
Sm
all
tub
e
Syringe
Syringe
filter
Eyedro
pper
Meth
yle
ne
Blu
e
Solu
tion
75
Dielectric Constant Measurements Process
with a Percometer
MaterialDielectric
Constant
Air 1.0
Water 81.0
Asphalt 4.0-6.0
Concrete 8.0-12.0
Clay 4.0-40.0
Methylene Blue Test of Soil Properties:
A Rapid and Accurate Field Test
Robert L. Lytton
Hakan Sahin
Houston Foundation Performance Association
December 10th, 2014
