Full-Scale Laboratory Accelerated Test on Geotextile Reinforced Unpaved Road

Abstract

This paper examines the behavior of full-scale unreinforced and geotextile reinforced unpaved road using an indigenously developed full-scale laboratory accelerated pavement testing set up. The models of the unpaved road were subjected to 35,000 loading cycles of standard axle load. The effect of reinforcement on the vertical stress distribution at the base–subgrade interface was investigated. The test results show that the inclusion of geotextile significantly reduced the magnitude of vertical stress in the reinforced road as compared with the unreinforced road. This reduction of vertical stress magnitude is comparable to 9°–16° increases in the stress distribution angle; this may be attributed to stretching of the geotextile due to the tendency of lateral spreading of aggregates in the base course. The limited number of load cycles confirmed the lateral restraint of base course aggregates by the geotextile reinforcement and thus a reduction in the magnitude of vertical stress. The test results also confirmed about 22% reduction in base course thickness due to geotextile reinforcement, thus one step towards sustainability by saving of the expensive natural base course aggregate.