Geosynthetic-reinforced Overlays as Preventive Maintenance Strategy

The use of geosynthetic-reinforced overlays as a preventive maintenance technique has proven to be effective in extending the service life of the roadways. Specifically, the performance benefits from geosynthetic reinforcement of asphalt overlays are expected in mitigation and/or retardation of reflective cracking as well as enhancement in the structural capacity of the pavement structure. A comprehensive study was conducted to evaluate various aspects of the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced overlays. Specifically, this study included three main components including: 1) a comprehensive assessment of the literature on the previous studies on the benefits of geosynthetics in geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt overlay; 2) a field monitoring program that involved construction and instrumentation of full-scale test sections that were constructed using geosynthetic-reinforced and unreinforced asphalt overlays; and 3) an experimental evaluation program that involved interface shear testing and overlay testing of geosynthetic-reinforced and unreinforced asphalt specimens. Overall, results obtained in this study provided evidence for geosynthetic benefits in reinforced asphalt overlays. Specifically, the tensile strains in the old asphalt was found to be significantly reduced in the geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt overlay than the unreinforced overlay. The strains induced at the location of preexisting cracks in the old asphalt were also found to be reduced in the geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt overlay as compared to the unreinforced overlay. Experimental evaluations showed a 15 to 35 % reduction in the maximum shear strength at the geosynthetic-asphalt interface due to the debonding effect. In addition, the existing configuration of the overlay test was found not to be suitable for experimental evaluation of geosynthetic benefits in mitigation and/or retardation of reflective cracking in asphalt overlays; because the failure mode that was observed in the overlay testing of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt specimen was debonding rather than development of cross cracks.

• Record URL:
  https://www.chpp.egr.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/32.-CHPP-Report-UTA9-2021.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Austin, TX  United States  78712

  Center for Highway Pavement Preservation

  Michigan State University
  Okemos, MI  United States 

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Austin, TX  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Roodi, Gholam H
  • Zornberg, Jorge G
  • Phillips, James R
  • Yang, Luming
  • Morsy, Amr M
  • Prozzi, Jorge A
• Publication Date: 2021-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Project Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 112p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Debonding; Geosynthetics; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement maintenance; Preventive maintenance; Shear tests
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01787574
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CHPP Report-UTA#9-2021
• Files: UTC, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 10 2021 1:54PM