Geosynthetics
Subgrade Stabilization and Base Reinforcement
Eli Cuelho, P.E.
Western Transportation Institute
Montana State University
October 24, 2012
Geotextile
Geogrid
Geocomposite
Geonet
Geomembrane
Geosynthetic Types
ASTM D4439: A permeable geosynthetic
comprised solely of textiles.
Woven geotextile
monofilament
multifilament
slit film tape
Non-woven geotextile
needle punched
heat bonded
Geotextiles
Geotextile: Woven Monofilament
Geotextile: Woven Multifilament
Geotextile: Woven Slit Film Tape
Geotextile: Nonwoven Needle Punched
Geotextile: Nonwoven Heat Bonded
ASTM D4439: A geosynthetic formed by a
regular network of integrally connected
elements with apertures greater than in. to
allow interlocking with surrounding soil, rock,
earth, and other materials to function primarily
as reinforcement.
Categories based on junction type:
Extruded geogrid
Bonded geogrid
Woven geogrid
Geogrid
Geogrid: Biaxial Extruded or
Integrally-Formed
Geogrid: Laser Welded
Geogrid: Woven
ASTM D4439: A product composed of
two or more materials, at least one of
which is a geosynthetic.
Common combinations:
Geotextile and geonet
Geotextile and geogrid
Geotextile and drainage pipes
Geonet and erosion mat
Geocomposite
Geocomposite: Geotextile/Geonet
Geocomposite: Geotextile/Pipe
ASTM D4439: A geosynthetic consisting of
integrally connected parallel sets of ribs
overlying similar sets at various angles for
planar drainage of liquids and gases.
Geonet
1) Stabilization / Reinforcement
2) Separation
Wheel load support Base aggregate
Subgrade
Confinement
Geosynthetic
Tension
Geosynthetic Functions in Pavements
3) Drainage
4) Filtration
Geosynthetic Functions in Pavements
Placement and maintenance of aggregate that serves as a
stable layer for support of the remaining pavement structure
What is Stabilization?
Instabilities During Construction
Instabilities During Operating Life
Stabilization
Stabilization: Separation Function
Lateral Restraint
Bearing Capacity
Increase
Membrane Tension
Support
Stabilization: Reinforcement Function
Full-Scale Field Study of Geosynthetics
Used as Subgrade Stabilization
Background
Problem
Lack of universally accepted design that uses
generic geosynthetic properties
Understanding of which properties are most
relevant
Objective assess performance and
survivability of various geosynthetics when
used as subgrade stabilization
Weak subgrade
Constructed uniformly
Controlled traffic
Eli Cuelho Research Engineer & Program Manager
(406) 994-7886
[email protected] www.transcendlab.org
Test Section Layout
Control 1 WeG-1 WeG-2 IFG-3 IFG-5 WeG-6 WoG-7 WoG-8 WoT-9 Control 2
20 m
20 m
15 m 15 m 15 m 15 m
15 m 15 m 15 m 15 m
CoG-4
20 m
15 m
Direction of trafficking
NWoT-10
4 m
Not to scale
Geosynthetics
WeG-1 WeG-2 IFG-3 CoG-4 IFG-5
WeG-6 WoG-7 NWoT-10 WoT-9 WoG-8
Constructing Trench
Construction of Artificial Subgrade
Tilling
Moisture Control
Compaction
Pre and Post Trafficking Subgrade Strength
C
o
m
p
o
s
i
t
e
C
B
R
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Test Section
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
1
W
e
G
-
1
W
e
G
-
2
I
F
G
-
3
C
o
G
-
4
I
F
G
-
5
W
e
G
-
6
W
o
G
-
7
W
o
G
-
8
W
o
T
-
9
N
W
o
T
-
1
0
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
2
Pre-Trafficking Composite
Post-Trafficking Composite
Targeted
Range
Post Trafficking
Average
Installation of Geosynthetics
Base Course Aggregate
Well-graded gravel
20 cm thick based on FHWA design
Control sections ~100 mm of rut at 45 truck passes
Geosynthetic sections ~100 mm rut at 455 truck passes
Grading the Base Course
Compacting the
Base Course
Ready for Trafficking
Trafficking
Total weight = 46 kips (20,860 kg)
Speed = 10 mph (15 kph)
Final Layout
50 mm
25 mm
200 mm
Base course
Artificial
Subgrade
1 m
4 m
Original taxiway
50 mm
25 mm
200 mm
Base course
Artificial
Subgrade
1 m
4 m
50 mm
25 mm
200 mm
Base course
Artificial
Subgrade
1 m
4 m
50 mm
25 mm
200 mm
Base course
Artificial
Subgrade
1 m
4 m
Original taxiway
Pass 1
Pass 2
Pass 3
Pass 5
Pass 20
Pass 25
Pass 40
Filling in Ruts
Rut Measurements
Differences in elevation as rut accumulates
Two outermost wheel ruts in each test section
Relate traffic passes to specific rut levels
1 truck pass = 2.2 traffic passes
Apparent rut
Original
road surface
Elevation rut
Mean Rut Depth (mm)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
N
a
d
d
0
20
40
60
80
100
WeG-1
WeG-2
IFG-3
CoG-4
IFG-5
WeG-6
WoG-7
WoG-8
WoT-9
NWoT-10
Mean Rut Depth vs. N
add
Forensic
Investigations
Extracting Geosynthetics
Post Trafficking Measurements
Conclusions
All geosynthetics provided improvement when
compared to controls
Welded, woven and stronger integrally formed
grids performed best
Two textiles and weaker integrally formed grid
provided significantly less benefit
Current design methods underpredicted base
layer thickness for this situation
Tensile strength in cross-machine direction
plays a significant role in rut suppression
Phase II Subgrade Stabilization Study
Objective: match geosynthetic material
properties to field performance
Pooled-fund study (9 states, MT is lead)
17 full-scale test sections
Phase II Test Section Layout
North
50 ft
50 ft
...
Control
1
11
Tensar
BXType2
50 ft
50 ft 50 ft
Tensar
BXType2
15 ft
Control
2
50 ft
2 3 4
50 ft 50 ft
50 ft
1
50 ft
Not to scale
Thickest
base
(24)
Thicker
base
(16)
Regular
base
(12)
Control
3
50 ft
Regular
base
(~12)
Tensar
BXType2
Regular
subgrade
CBR=1.7
Weaker
subgrade
CBR=1.4
Stronger
subgrade
CBR=2.0
Base Reinforcement
Improve long-term load bearing capacity
Improve structural support
Geosynthetics incorporated into design of
road structure
Improve roadway
longevity
Application
Tend to be lower volume roads
AC thickness 2 to 4 inches
Base thickness 8 to 16 inches
CBR < 8
Pavement surface distresses
Rutting
Fatigue cracking
Reinforcement placed at bottom of base layer
Structural Contribution Based on
Empirical Methods
Traffic Benefit Ratio (TBR)
Comparison of equivalent pavement systems
Ratio of load applications in reinforced sections over
load applications in unreinforced sections
Base Course Reduction Factor (BCR)
Comparison of equivalent traffic capacity
Percent reduction in base thickness
TBR
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000
Traffic Passes
R
u
t
D
e
p
t
h
(
i
n
c
h
)
TBR= 75,000/12,500 = 6
12,500 Passes
75,500 Passes
TBR= 4
Unreinforced
Reinforced
BCR
BCR = (D
2-U
- D
2-R
)/D
2-U
with identical life
GEOSYNTHETIC
BASE
AC
D
2-U
D
2-R
SUBGRADE
Benefit Results
Requires comparative studies
Typical TBRs from test sections
Geogrids: 1.5 to 70
Geotextiles: 1.5 to 10
BCR
22% to 50%
Mechanistic-Empirical Design
Geosynthetic Modeling
Finite element model by Perkins et al. (2004)
Based on 2-D axisymmetric FEM contained in NCHRP
Project 1-37A
Includes geosynthetic reinforcement
Geosynthetic material models need constitutive
properties pertinent to pavement design
Elastic modulus in principal strength directions (tension tests)
Soil-geosynthetic interaction (pullout tests)
In-plane Poissons ratio (biaxial test)
Cyclic Tension Tests
Low-strain cyclic modulus (ASTM D7556)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
Strain (m/m)
L
o
a
d
(
k
N
/
m
)
Monotonic Test
Cyclic Test
Cyclic Pullout Tests
Resilient interface shear modulus (ASTM
D7499)
Biaxial Tension
Poissons ratio
XMD
MD
P
e
MD
XMD
n
XMD-MD
Practical Use of This Information
Areas of weak subgrade material
Need for stable platform to build road
Maintain separation between layers
Areas where gravel sources are limited or
costly
Low-volume roads experiencing increased
truck traffic
FHWA NHI Manual: Geosynthetic Design
& Construction Guidelines (2008)
Thank you!
Presented by:
Eli Cuelho, P.E. Western Transportation Institute
[email protected] | (406) 994-7886
WesternTransportationInstitute.org
