Cyclic Plate Load Testing of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Unbound Aggregate Roads (05-1935)
Jeb S. Tingle, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Sarah Jersey, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

A laboratory research program designed to investigate geotextile and geogrid reinforcement of the aggregate layer in unbound pavement sections was performed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the performance of geosynthetic reinforced aggregate road sections over a very soft subgrade. Different aggregate road sections were constructed in a large steel box fabricated as a containment vessel to permit the construction of controlled pavement sections using standard construction materials. An experiment matrix consisting of instrumented unreinforced and reinforced aggregate road sections was subjected to cyclic plate load tests to evaluate the performance of the pavement sections under simulated truck traffic. The mechanistic response and permanent deformation of each pavement section was monitored periodically during each test. The experiment data were analyzed to determine the relative benefit of using geotextiles and geogrids to reinforce aggregate roads. The results indicate that the geosynthetics improved the performance of the reinforced pavement sections compared to the unreinforced section in terms of improved load distribution and reduced permanent deformation or rutting. Additional information regarding the reinforcement mechanisms is summarized.