Evaluation of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavement Systems Using Two Pavement Test Facilities

Evaluation of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavement Systems Using Two Pavement Test Facilities
Author: Steven W. Perkins
Publisher:
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2002
Genre: Geosynthetics
ISBN:

Montana State University has previously completed experimental test section, numerical modeling and design model development projects for the Montana Department of Transportation. Test section work has led to a fundamental understanding of mechanisms by which geosynthetics provide reinforcement when placed in the aggregate layer of flexible pavements. Finite element numerical models have relied upon this knowledge as their basis while design models derived from these numerical models have been calibrated against results from test sections. The test sections used for the development of these models were limited by the number of subgrade types, geosynthetic types and loading type employed. This project was initiated to provide additional test section data to better define the influence of traffic loading type and geosynthetic reinforcement type. The loading provided to the test sections forming the basis of the models described above consisted of a cyclic load applied to a stationary plate. In this project, four full scale test sections were constructed and loaded with a heavy vehicle simulator located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility in Hanover, NH. The four test sections used three geosynthetics identical to those used in previous test sections and pavement layer materials and thickness similar to previous sections. Additional test sections were constructed in the pavement test box used in previous studies to examine the influence of base aggregate type, base course thickness reduction levels and reinforcement type. A rounded pit run aggregate was used in test sections to evaluate the influence of geosynthetic aggregate shear interaction parameters on reinforcement benefit. The 1993 AASHTO Design Guide was used to backcalculate the base course thickness reduction from previous test section results where a traffic benefit ratio (extension of life) was known. Sections were built to this base course thickness reduction to see if equivalent life to an unreinforced section was obtained. Finally, six different geosynthetic products were used in test sections to evaluate the influence of reinforcement type on pavement performance.

Geosynthetics in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Geosynthetics in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Author: Guang-xin Li
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 902
Release: 2008-09-12
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9783540693123

Geosynthetics in Civil and Environmental Engineering presents contributions from the 4th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics held in Shanghai, China. The book covers a broad range of topics, such as: fundamental principles and properties of geosynthetics, testing and standards, reinforcement, soil improvement and ground improvement, filter and drainage, landfill engineering, geosystem, transport, geosynthetics-pile support system and geocell, hydraulic application, and ecological techniques. Special case studies as well as selected government-sponsored projects such as the Three Gorges Dam, Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and Changi Land reclamation project are also discussed. The book will be an invaluable reference in this field.

Mechanistic-empirical Modeling and Design Model Development of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavements

Mechanistic-empirical Modeling and Design Model Development of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavements
Author: Steven W. Perkins
Publisher:
Total Pages: 156
Release: 2001
Genre: Geogrids
ISBN:

This report provides an appendix for the report with the reference: Perkins, S.W. (2001) Mechanistic Empirical Modeling and Design Model Development of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavements: Final Report, Montana Department of Transportation, Helena, Montana, FHWA/MT 01 002/99160 1A, 156p. This report contains output from the software program DARWin for each design example provided in Appendix B of the above referenced report.

Accelerated Load Testing of Geosynthetic Base Reinforced Unpaved and Pavement Test Sections

Accelerated Load Testing of Geosynthetic Base Reinforced Unpaved and Pavement Test Sections
Author: Murad Yusuf Abu-Farsakh
Publisher:
Total Pages: 107
Release: 2019
Genre: TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
ISBN:

This research study aims at evaluating the benefits of using geosynthetics to reinforce/stabilize base aggregate layer/subgrade in pavements under repeated loading test conditions. For this purpose, a total of six 80-ft. long and 13 ft. wide full-scale test lane sections were constructed, among which two sections were reinforced by one or two layers of triaxial geogrids, two sections were reinforced by one layer of high strength woven geotextile with different base layer thickness, and the remaining two sections were the control sections. The field test sections were instrumented by a variety of sensors to measure the load- and environment-associated pavement response and performance. Two series of tests, moving wheel load tests and cyclic plate load tests, were conducted to investigate the field performance of geosynthetic reinforced/stabilized paved roads and to identify the differences in pavement response to moving wheel and cyclic plate loads. In addition, six similar test sections were constructed inside a 6.5-ft. × 6.5-ft. × 5.5-ft. test box. The test box sections were also instrumented by a variety of sensors to measure the load-associated pavement response and performance. Laboratory cyclic plate load tests were then conducted. The results of accelerated load testing on the pavement test sections demonstrate the benefits of using geosynthetics in reducing the permanent deformation in the pavement structure. The adjusted traffic benefit ratio (TBRadj) associated with geosynthetic reinforcement can be increased up to 2.12 at a rut depth of 0.75 in. for pavement constructed using 18 in. thick base layer on top of weak subgrade soil using two layers of geogrid reinforcement. The inclusion of geosynthetics results in redistributing the applied load to a wider area, thus reducing the accumulated permanent deformation within the subgrade. The benefit of geosynthetics on reducing the maximum stress on top of subgrade is more appreciable at higher load levels. It was also found that the geosynthetics placed at the base-subgrade interface was able to improve the performance of both subgrade and base layers; by placing an additional layer of geogrid at the upper one-third of the base layer, the performance of the base layer was further enhanced. While geosynthetics showed appreciable benefit on reducing the permanent deformation of the subgrade layer, it showed less effect on the resilient properties of the subgrade layer. Drainage of the base layer has important effect on the performance of pavement structures for both unreinforced and reinforced lane sections. The life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) demonstrated the cost savings of using geosynthetics in pavement as compared to the unreinforced/untreated sections. However, compared to the 12-in. cement/lime treated subgrade with the cement stabilized base pavement section, the LCCA showed it is more cost effective to use geosynthetics for base thickness less than 12 in. (or 15 in. of unreinforced aggregate base). The cost benefit becomes close for base thickness 12 in. between using a single geosynthetic layer and a 12-in. cement/lime treated subgrade with a cement stabilized base. Moreover, the cost benefit of using double geogrid layers exceeds the cost savings of a 12-in. treated subgrade with a cement stabilized base.

A Study of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavement System

A Study of Geosynthetic Reinforced Flexible Pavement System
Author: Ranjiv Gupta
Publisher:
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2009
Genre:
ISBN:

The use of geosynthetics as reinforcement for the base layer of flexible pavement systems has grown steadily over the past thirty years. In spite of the evidence that geosynthetic reinforcements can lead to improved pavement performance, the specific conditions or mechanisms that enable and govern the reinforcement are unclear, largely remaining unidentified and unmeasured. The appropriate selection of design parameters for geosynthetics is complicated by the difficulty in associating their relevant properties to the improved pavement performance. In addition, pavement structures deteriorate under the combined effects of traffic loading and environmental conditions, such as moisture changes. However, these factors have not been studied together in the evaluation of the overall performance of pavement systems. Consequently, this research focused on the assessment of the effect of geosynthetics on the pavement structural section's ability to support traffic loads and to resist environmental changes. Accordingly, the primary objectives of this research were: (i) to determine the governing mechanisms and relevant properties of geosynthetics that contribute to the enhanced performance of pavement systems; (ii) to develop appropriate analytical, laboratory and field methods that are capable of quantifying the above properties for geosynthetics; and (iii) to enable the prediction of pavement performance depending on the various types of geosynthetics used. To fulfill these three objectives, an evaluative, laboratory and field study was performed. The improved performance of pavements due to addition of geosynthetics was attributed to the ability of geosynthetics to laterally restrain the base course material, thereby providing a confinement effect to the pavement. A parameter to quantify the soil-geosynthetic interaction at low displacement magnitudes based on the solution of an analytical model for geosynthetics confined in pullout box was proposed. The pullout tests were then conducted on various geosynthetics to obtain the proposed parameter for various geosynthetics. The quantitative magnitude of the parameter value from the laboratory tests was compared with the qualitative performance observed in the field test sections. Overall, a good agreement was obtained between the laboratory and field results, thereby providing confidence in the ability of the proposed analytical model to predict the governing mechanism for geosynthetic reinforced pavements.

Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Flexible Pavements

Geosynthetic Reinforcement of Flexible Pavements
Author: Steven W. Perkins
Publisher:
Total Pages: 140
Release: 1999
Genre: Roads
ISBN:

Over the course of the last 17 years, approximately 12 different studies have shown the potential for the use of geosynthetic materials (geogrids and geotextiles) as a reinforcement inclusion in the base course aggregate layer of flexible pavements. The attraction of this application lies in the possibility of reducing the thickness of the base course layer such that a roadway of equal service life results or in extending the service life of the roadway. While several existing studies have provided data that aid in describing mechanisms of reinforcement, detailed information required to understand the mechanisms by which geosynthetics reinforce flexible pavements is lacking. In the absence of this information, it has historically been difficult to create mechanistic based models that adequately describe the process. As such, efforts to establish design solutions have been based largely on empirical data and considerations. Existing design solutions have not been met with open acceptance due to their inability to predict performance for conditions other than those established in the experiments for which the solution was based. This research was undertaken to provide experimental data that could be used to further establish the mechanisms of geosynthetic reinforcement that lead to enhanced pavement performance. Subsequent work will involve the use of these data in developing numerical models and design solutions for this application. Pavement test sections have been constructed in a laboratory based pavement test facility. The facility consists of a large concrete box in which field scale pavement layers can be constructed. Loading is provided through the application of a cyclic, 40 kN load applied to a stationary plate resting on the pavement surface. The test sections have been instrumented with an extensive series of stress and strain cells. Test section variables have included geosynthetic type (two biaxial geogrid products and one woven geotextile), subgrade type and strength, placement position of the geosynthetic in the base course layer and base course layer thickness. The results have shown that the inclusion of a geosynthetic provides a significant reinforcement effect. The geosynthetic is shown to have an influence on the amount of lateral spreading that occurs in both the bottom of the base course layer and in the top of the subgrade. Reinforcement is also seen to produce a more distributed vertical stress distribution on the top of the subgrade. As a result of these effects, reinforcement limits the vertical strain developed in the base and subgrade layers, leading to less surface deformation. Given that these mechanisms result from the development of shear interaction between the base and the geosynthetic, the combination of these effects is termed a mechanism of a shear resisting interface. These effects are seen to be most significant for a soft subgrade where substantial improvement in pavement performance has been observed. Geosynthetic type, strength, stiffness and placement position are also seen to influence observed improvement.

Analysis of Data for a Geosynthetic-reinforced Flexible Pavement

Analysis of Data for a Geosynthetic-reinforced Flexible Pavement
Author: Thomas Michael Vick
Publisher:
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2006
Genre:
ISBN:

In the summer of 2005, a geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavement section was constructed in Northeast Arkansas by the University of Arkansas. The pavement section was constructed with seventeen individual test sections (each 15 m [50 ft] long). The first eight sections had an aggregate base coarse that was 25.4 cm (10 in) thick, the last eight sections had an aggregate base coarse that was 15.2 cm (6 in) thick and the aggregate in the center transition section tapered from 25.4 cm (10 in) to 15.2 cm (6 in) thick. There were a total of seven different geosynthetic configurations and a control section for each aggregate base thickness. The outside wheel path was instrumented with earth pressure cells, asphalt strain gages, geosynthetic foil strain gages, T-type thermocouples, and moisture content probes. A data acquisition system was used to acquire the responses to over 2,000 passes of a loaded, single axle dump truck. Over the course of testing, over 800 files of data were generated and processed. A file management and data manipulation process was developed by the author to organize, filter, process, analyze, evaluate, present, and archive the wealth of data into useable formats. The data manipulation procedure, a discussion of the time effort involved, and the difficulties encountered are discussed herein. Additionally, data analysis using Asphalt Institute transfer functions and Miner's hypothesis were employed to empirically evaluate the vehicle load responses acquired in Arkansas. The transfer functions were used to predict the damage induced in terms of alligator fatigue cracking and sub grade rutting. Finally, the results of the empirical rutting analysis were compared to actual field measurements provided to the author. Approximately half of the service life (in terms of rutting) was expended during the test for approximately 25% of the test sections, assuming a 13 mm (0.5 in) failure criterion. Unfortunately, the test site received roughly 70% of the anticipated rainfall. Therefore, the anticipated benefit of the geosynthetics (during the weakest conditions) was not observed, and the potential benefits associated with the geosynthetics were inconclusive. Further testing on this geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavement test section in Arkansas will likely continue in the future.

Geosynthetics and Their Applications

Geosynthetics and Their Applications
Author: Sanjay Kumar Shukla
Publisher: Thomas Telford
Total Pages: 465
Release: 2002
Genre: Geosynthetics
ISBN: 0727731173

Presents topics that are based on field application areas for geosynthetics in civil engineering. This book also includes case histories and practical aspects of the application of geosynthetics, along with developments and references. It is useful for students and engineers in search of approaches to solutions for civil engineering problems.

Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, Two Volume Set

Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, Two Volume Set
Author: Erol Tutumluer
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 1560
Release: 2009-06-15
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0203865286

Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields focuses on issues pertaining to the bearing capacity of highway and airfield pavements and railroad track structures and provided a forum to promote efficient design, construction and maintenance of the transportation infrastructure. The collection of papers from the Eighth International Conference