Evaluating the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced unpaved roads using plate load tests

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced unpaved road sections over soft subgrade using plate load test. The parameters investigated included the location and tensile modulus of geosynthetics, and the number of geosynthetic layers. Stress distribution on top of the subgrade layer and strain distribution along the geosynthetic reinforcements were also investigated. The test results indicated that geosynthetic reinforcement resulted in appreciable reduction of surface deformation and increase of bearing capacity. The test results also demonstrated the effects of geogrid arrangement/location on the performance of unpaved test sections, with double reinforcement location consistently yielded the best improvement. The definite trend of increasing Bearing Capacity Ratio (BCR) and reloading elastic modulus with increasing tensile modulus of geosynthetics was observed when geosynthetics were grouped according to aperture shape and polymer type. The BCR is defined as the ratio of the bearing capacity of reinforced unpaved sections to that of unreinforced unpaved section.

Keywords::

• geosynthetic reinforcement
• unpaved roads
• soft subgrade
• plate load test
• bearing capacity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the LTRC [LTRC Project No. 04-2GT] and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development [State Project No. 736-99-1242]. The authors would like to express their thanks to Mark Morvant, Zhongjie Zhang and Gavin Gautreau at LTRC for providing valuable help and support in this study.