Full-Scale Evaluation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Aggregate Roads

A full-scale test section was constructed and trafficked by the US. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to evaluate the performance of geosynthetic reinforced aggregate road sections constructed with marginal base materials over a typical subgrade. Eight instrumented aggregate road sections-including three different aggregate base materials and two different geosynthetics-were constructed. The mechanistic response and permanent surface deformation of each pavement section were monitored at selected intervals during trafficking, and the data were analyzed to determine the benefit of using geotextiles or geogrids to reinforce aggregate roads. The test section's results indicated that the geosynthetics improved the performance of the reinforced pavement sections compared with unreinforced sections for all aggregate base materials. The mechanistic response in terms of surface deflection, deflection at the top of the subgrade, and vertical stress at the top of the subgrade was favorably consistent with the observed permanent deformation of the individual test items.