Evaluation of base-reinforced pavements using a heavy vehicle simulator

Abstract

Four full-scale flexible pavement test sections were constructed to evaluate pavement performance containing three geosynthetic reinforcement products. The test sections were constructed in an indoor facility and loaded with a heavy vehicle simulator equipped with a dual tire standard truck half axle. Stress and strain sensors were embedded in the pavement test sections, and a surface profiler was used to monitor rutting. A significant improvement in rutting, due to the development of permanent strain in the pavement and soil layers, was observed in all reinforced sections. The order of performance of the reinforced test sections corresponded to that observed in a previous study using a smaller-scale facility where a repeated traffic load was applied to a stationary plate. The benefit values, defined in terms of a traffic benefit ratio, were comparable between the two test facilities, but lower for the moving wheel load. Mechanisms of reinforcement were also seen to be similar between the two facilities. Comparison of benefit values predicted from a design model developed in a previous project showed that the model offered predictions that were consistent in trend yet conservative in magnitude.