Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Flexible Pavements Reinforced with Geogrids

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effectiveness of glass fiber grids as a reinforcement of the asphalt layer in a flexible pavement system was investigated. The study involved both laboratory experimental work and computer analysis of pavement sections. Twenty flexible pavement sections (with and without glass fiber grids) were constructed and tested in the laboratory as a part of the experimental study. The laboratory-scale pavement sections were instrumented with pressure cells, displacement gages, and strain gages. Test sections were subjected to 1,000,000 load applications at a frequency of 1.2 Hz. Static loading tests were conducted at intervals of 100,000 load applications. In thirteen experiments, glass fiber grids were used as reinforcement in the asphalt layer. Several computer analyses of flexible pavement sections were performed by using the finite element method (FEM). The laboratory data were compared with results obtained from the computer analyses. Results from this study show that glass fiber grids can be used to improve the performance of flexible pavement systems. It was also observed that the inclusion of glass fiber grid in the asphalt layer provided resistance to crack propagation. Overall, the flexible pavement sections reinforced with glass fiber grids showed better performance under laboratory test conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

t :

Thickness of asphalt layer

r c :

Radius of contact surface

P :

Total load on the tire

p c :

Tire inflation pressure

D :

Diameter of contact area

[K]:

Global stiffness matrix

{r}:

Global displacement vector

{R}:

Global load vector

U :

Strain energy density

\( \bar{X},\bar{Y} \) :

Body forces in x- and y-directions

\( \bar{T}_{x} ,\bar{T}_{y} \) :

Surface tractions in x- and y-directions

S :

Portion of the body on which the surface traction is applied

u, v:

Nodal displacements in x- and y-directions

ε:

Strain vector

σ:

Stress vector

σ0 :

Initial stress vector

P i :

Load acting at node ‘i’

[C]:

Constitutive matrix

{Q}:

Element load vector

{q}:

Element displacement vector

References

  • ABAQUS (2006) ABAQUS user’s manual. Hibbit, Karlson and Sorenson, Inc., Pawtucket, Rhode Island

    Google Scholar 

  • Asphalt Institute (1989) The asphalt handbook. Asphalt Institute Manual Series 4

  • Baek J, Al-Qadi IL (2006) Finite element method modeling of reflective cracking initiation and propagation: investigation of the effect of steel reinforcement interlayer on retarding reflective cracking in hot mix asphalt overlay. Transp Res Rec 1949:32–42. doi:10.3141/1949-04

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barksdale RD (1991) Fabrics in asphalt overlays and pavements maintenance. Report NCHRP 171, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

  • Button JW, Lytton RL (1987) Evaluation of fabrics, fibers and grids in overlays. Proceedings of the 6th international conference on structural design of asphalt pavements, vol 1, pp 925–934

  • Cleveland GS, Lytton RL, Button JW (2003) Using pseudostrain damage theory to characterize reinforcing benefits of geosynthetic materials in asphalt concrete overlays. Transp Res Rec 1849:202–211. doi:10.3141/1849-22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook RD, Malkus DS, Plesha ME, Witt RJ (2003) Concepts and applications of finite element analysis. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Desai CS, Siriwardane HJ (1984) Constitutive laws for engineering materials with special reference to geologic media. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang YH (1993) Pavement analysis and design. Prentice Hall, Englewood, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Koerner RM (1994) Designing with geosynthetics, 3rd edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutuk B (1998) Performance of flexible pavements reinforced with geogrids. Dissertation, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

  • Kwon J, Tutumluer E, Kim M (2005) Development of a mechanistic model for geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavements. Geosynth Int 12(6):310–320. doi:10.1680/gein.2005.12.6.310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lytton RL (1989) Use of geotextiles for reinforcement and strain relief in asphalt concrete. Geotext Geomembr 8:217–237. doi:10.1016/0266-1144(89)90004-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins S, Cuelho EL (2007) Mechanistic-empirical design model predictions for base-reinforced pavements. Transp Res Rec 1989:121–128. doi:10.3141/1989-55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shuler S, Hermelink D (2004) Reducing reflection cracking in asphalt pavements. Cracking in pavements, mitigation risk assessment and prevention, Proceedings of the 5th international RILEM conference, France, pp 451–458

  • Yoder EJ, Witczak MW (1975) Principles of pavement design, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The paper contains results from a research project funded by the West Virginia Department of transportation (WVDOT), Division of Highways through a research contract to West Virginia University. The authors acknowledge the support provided by WVDOT.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Hema Siriwardane, Raj Gondle & Bora Kutuk

Authors
  1. Hema Siriwardane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Raj Gondle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bora Kutuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hema Siriwardane.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Siriwardane, H., Gondle, R. & Kutuk, B. Analysis of Flexible Pavements Reinforced with Geogrids. Geotech Geol Eng 28, 287–297 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9241-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-008-9241-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation