Analysis of Flexible Pavements Reinforced with Geogrids

摘要

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.