Evaluation of the Zone of Influence of Geogrid Reinforcement inCompacted Base Course using Rotation Measurements

摘要

Geogrid reinforced base enhances the load carrying capacity of pavement systems, reduces excessive deformationrnof the road surface, and enhances the stiffness of the material next to the geogrid. Previous research has examinedrnand demonstrated the benefits of geosynthetic reinforcement; however, the interaction between base course soilsrnand the geogrid is less well understood for quantitative incorporation in the design process under service loads. Inrnother words, the determination of stiffness increase and thickness of the influence zone remains elusive. Thisrnresearch deploys MEMS accelerometers in modeled soil-geogrid systems to monitor soil rotation and determine thernthickness of the zone. Laboratory results are compared to finite elements solutions to determine differences betweenrnthe model and the laboratory tests. Rotation angles are highest directly beneath the edge of a 150 mm-diameter platernand diminish in close proximity to the geogrid, with the influence zone of the geogrid depending on the depth ofrnreinforcement. This zone of influence is around 50-mm thick as indicated by internal rotation measurements.