Geocell-Reinforced Pavement Structure State of Practice in Canada

Geocell reinforcement at the base and subbase courses of pavement structures is one of the recent developments in the field of geosynthetics soil reinforcement. Geocells are honeycomb-shaped three-dimensional materials usually made from polymeric alloys and High-Density Polyethylene. Geocells improve the modulus and strength of the reinforced soil composite and durability of the road structure by providing lateral confinement, wider load distribution and also through a semi-rigid slab or beam effect. Novel Polymeric Alloy (NPA) is the latest technology used as geocell material which provide increase tensile strength, higher modulus and creep resistance compared to the geocells made from other types of material. Geocells can be used in both paved and unpaved roads contributing to the sustainability of the project by reducing the overall thickness of the pavement structure and decreasing the amount of virgin aggregate required. This in turn decreases the environmental footprint of the project and reduces the overall construction cost. Over the past decade a number of roads (paved and unpaved) have been constructed in Canada using the NPA geocell reinforcement. This paper discusses the current state of the practice in designing pavement structure with geocells. Few projects designed with geocell reinforcement are also discussed in detail to provide insight into the challenges faced during construction, long-term performance of the geocell-reinforced pavement structure and contribution of the geocell in each project to reduce environmental footprint and construction cost of the projects. In summary geocells have enabled the owners to save on the construction cost and lower the CO2 emission associated with the construction while improving the pavement performance and reducing pavement distresses.

• Record URL:
  https://www.tac-atc.ca/sites/default/files/conf_papers/norouzim-geocell-reinforced_pavement_structure_state_of_practice_in_canada-version_0.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • Norouzi, M
  • Pokharel, S
  • Breault, M
• Conference:
  • Transportation Association of Canada and ITS Canada 2019 Joint Conference and Exhibition
• Publication Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 1 PDF file, 1.8 MB, 19p.
• Monograph Title: Transportation Association of Canada and ITS Canada 2019 Joint Conference and Exhibition

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Conferences; Construction; Geogrids; Geosynthetics; Soil stabilization; State of the art reports
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 8018: Canada; 8525: Conference; 3655: Construction; 4588: Geogrid; 4587: Geosynthetic; 2961: Roadbase; 3689: Soil stabilization; 8588: State of the art report
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01730382
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Feb 4 2020 2:59PM