EVALUATION OF GEOSYNTHETIC REINFORCED FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT SYSTEMS USING TWO PAVEMENT TEST FACILITIES

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.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/24839
• Corporate Authors:

  Montana State University, Bozeman

  Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
  Bozeman, MT  United States  59717

  Montana Department of Transportation

  2701 Prospect Avenue
  P.O. Box 201001
  Helena, MT  United States  59620-1001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Perkins, S W
• Publication Date: 2002-11-22

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 136 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Base course (Pavements); Finite element method; Flexible pavements; Geosynthetics; Heavy vehicles; Mathematical models; Pavement performance; Reinforcement (Engineering); Repeated loads; Rounded aggregates; Test sections; Thickness
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962882
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/MT-02-008/20040,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: 20040
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 17 2003 12:00AM