Determining Geotextile Effects on Bearing Capacity Ratio and Cost of Pavement Layers by Conducting CBR Tests

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests in a laboratory were performed to observe the effects of geotextiles on bearing capacity ratio, pavement layer thickness, and cost for geotextile reinforced soils. Fourteen geotextile samples, most of which were produced from recycled materials, were used in the experiments. Therefore, physical properties of geotextiles were compared to each other in order to find the most effective type of geotextiles by CBR tests. Then, relationship and adaptation between soil particles and geotextile types were researched by using microscope analyses. Additionally, AASTHO pavement thickness calculations were conducted and cost analysis according to reinforced pavement design were investigated either for reinforced base and for reinforced subbase layers. As a result of the study, it was found that using geotextile can increase CBR behavior, and the bearing capacity ratio values can be more almost 3.5 times than unreinforced models. Each geotextile reinforcement type has a characteristic behavior on the pavement layer and generally, they decrease the pavement thickness and as for long span they can be more economical.