Finite Element Analysis of Flexible Pavement with Geogrids

Abstract

Geogrids is being increasingly used as a reinforced material in various divisions of civil engineering. The flexible pavement is the one of major area, where the needs of improvement in performance of pavement service life, base course and subgrade. The finite element method is a best suitable tool for solving problems related to nonlinear nature of materials. The objective of this article to access the functioning of geogrids in flexible pavement through finite element analysis with PLAXIS 2D software. The Mohr-coulomb model used for materials in the base layer,sub-base layer and subgrade layer and elastic model interface element used for geogrids to simulate the interaction condition. The triangular element of 15-noded is used for layers of pavements. The traffic intensity and thickness of each layer was use according to codal provisions of Indian road congress (IRC: 37-2012). In the present study, axis-symmetric model is used in the PLAXIS 2D for investigating the effect of axial stiffness of geogrids in the pavement at different thickness of base layer. The finite element analysis results shows the reduction in vertical surface deformation when the geogrids were added between the pavement layers. Results of previously published research shows the improvement in pavement performance when geogrids used as a reinforcement.