Development of a Design Methodology for Geosynthetic Reinforced Pavement Using Finite Element Numerical Modeling

Details

• Creators:
  Abu-Farsakh, Murad Y. ; Zadehmohamad, Mehdi
• Corporate Creators:
  Louisiana Transportation Research Center
• Corporate Contributors:
  Louisiana. Department of Transportation and Development ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Calibration
  • Finite element method
  • Geosynthetics
  • Load tests
  • Pavement design
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Simulation
  • Subgrade (Pavements)
  • Test sections
  • Traffic loads
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/LA.25/718
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Louisiana
• Edition:
  Final Report June 2020 - June 2025
• Corporate Publisher:
  Louisiana Transportation Research Center
• Abstract:
  This study was completed using finite element (FE) analysis to assess the benefits of using geosynthetic reinforcement in flexible pavements. A comprehensive parametric study was performed to determine the effect of different variables like asphalt layer thickness, base thickness, geosynthetic type and stiffness, and subgrade stiffness for low, medium, and high-volume traffic roads. The FE simulations were run for 100 load cycles, and the resulting permanent deformation (PD) was used to calibrate the ME rutting equation parameters for each layer. The PD data was extrapolated to determine the pavement's service life. The comparison of the PD curves of the unreinforced and reinforced sections was used to calculate the Traffic Benefit Ratios (TBR) at different rutting targets. By establishing the ratio between the calibrated rutting curves of the base and subgrade layers, the reduction coefficients for the PD equations ab and as were derived, which can be used directly in the design of geosynthetic reinforced pavements.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  20-3GT ; 1000346
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88171/dot_88171_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.42 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c0c8d4655b7f14f17ecdca1086efde5e611ce2065cd5804a83c1ee759a796fc81abfd55ba38d18b41278ec271a1773f224a87c9944d47a7270e952bab157d459