In situ performance verification of geogrid-stabilized aggregate layer: Route-39 El Carbón–Bonito Oriental, Honduras case study

Abstract

A novel approach to in situ performance testing using automated plate load testing (APLT) was adopted to verify the design of a 45.67 km agricultural corridor with chip seal surfaced roadway on Highway Route-39 between El Carbón and Bonito Oriental in Olancho and Colón, Honduras. The pavement design included a geogrid-stabilised aggregate base layer, a granular subbase layer and subgrade using target resilient modulus (M _r) design values for each layer. Rutting ‘failure’ based at a specified number of equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) was adopted as the key performance indicator. The project specifications required verifying the design assumptions for the geogrid-stabilised base layer using in situ accelerated plate load testing. The testing involved repeated cyclic loading (1,000 cycles) tests with a multi-layered analysis sensor kit to determine the in situ M _r of the three-layered composite pavement system as well as the geogrid-stabilised base layer. The permanent deformation of the pavement system was measured and modelled to predict the number of loading cycles required to reach the ‘failure’ criteria assumed in the design. The results and the verification testing approach described in this paper should be of interest to the pavement design, geotechnical and construction engineering community.

Keywords:

• Plate load testing
• resilient modulus
• permanent deformation
• rutting
• verification testing
• quality control
• quality assurance
• performance specifications