Analytical Model for Resilient Modulus and Permanent Deformation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Unbound Granular Material
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 9
Abstract
To consider the benefit of geosynthetic reinforcement in a mechanistic-empirical pavement design method, the resilient modulus and permanent deformation behavior of a geosynthetic-reinforced unbound granular material (UGM) must be considered. Many researchers conducted repeated-load triaxial (RLT) tests to investigate the resilient and permanent deformation behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced UGM. However, these tests are difficult to perform, and the results are often interpreted empirically. Thus, implementation of the research results is limited. In this study, an analytical model was developed to predict the resilient modulus and permanent deformation of the geosynthetic-reinforced UGM in RLT tests. The analytical model is compatible with the resilient modulus and permanent deformation models in the current mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide. Both planar and three-dimensional geosynthetics can be analyzed using this model. RLT test results from two published studies were selected to validate the proposed analytical model. In general, the analytical results confirmed and explained the typical test observations from previous studies that geosynthetic reinforcement is more effective in reducing the permanent deformation than increasing the resilient modulus of the UGM sample. A parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of input parameters (i.e., material properties, sample dimensions, and stress level) on the analytical model. The limitations, assumption, and implementation of the model are also discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
AASHTO. (1994). “Standard method of test for resilient modulus of subgrade soils and untreated base/subbase materials.” AASHTO T 294-94, Washington, DC.
AASHTO. (2003). “Standard test method for determining the resilient modulus of soils and aggregate materials.” AASHTO T 307-99, Washington, DC.
Al-Qadi, I., Dessouky, S., Kwon, J., and Tutumluer, E. (2008). “Geogrid in flexible pavements: Validated mechanism.” Transportation Research Record 2045, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 102–109.
ARA, Inc. (2004). “Guide for mechanistic-empirical design of new and rehabilitated pavement structures.” Final Rep. NCHRP Project 1-37A, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Bhandari, A., and Han, J. (2010). “Investigation of geotextile-soil interaction under a cyclic wheel load using the discrete element method.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 28(1), 33–43.
Bolton, M. D. (1986). “The strength and dilatancy of sands.” Geotechnique, 36(1), 65–78.
Brown, S. F., Kwan, J., and Thom, N. H. (2007). “Identifying the key parameters that influence geogrid reinforcement of railway ballast.” J. Geotextile Geomembr., 25(6), 326–335.
Giroud, J. P., and Han, J. (2004a). “Design method for geogrid-reinforced unpaved roads. I: Development of design method.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 130(8), 775–786.
Giroud, J. P., and Han, J. (2004b). “Design method for geogrid-reinforced unpaved roads. II: Calibration and applications.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 130(8), 787–797.
Han, J., and Bhandari, A. (2010). “The influence of geogrid aperture size on the behavior of reinforced granular bases.” Proc., Int. Symp. on Geomechanics and Geotechnics: From Micro to Macro, M. Jiang, F. Liu, and M. Bolton, eds., CRC Press, London, 683–687.
Han, J., et al. (2011). “Performance of geocell-reinforced RAP bases over weak subgrade under full-scale moving wheel loads.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 23(11), 1525–1534.
Huang, J., Parsons, R. L., Han, J., and Pierson, M. (2011). “Numerical analysis of a laterally loaded shaft constructed within an MSE wall.” Geotextiles Geomembr., 29(3), 233–241.
Kwon, J., and Tutumluer, E. (2009). “Geogrid base reinforcement with aggregate interlock and modeling of associated stiffness enhancement in mechanistic pavement analysis.” Transportation Research Record 2116, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 85–95.
Kwon, J., Tutumluer, E., and Al-Qadi, I. L. (2009). “Validated mechanistic model for geogrid base reinforced flexible pavements.” J. Transp. Eng., 135(12), 915–926.
Kwon, J., Tutumluer, E., and Konietzky, H. (2008). “Aggregate base residual stresses affecting geogrid reinforced flexible pavement response.” Int. J. Pave. Eng., 9(4), 275–285.
Ling, H. I., and Liu, H. (2003). “Finite element studies of asphalt concrete pavement reinforced with geogrid.” J. Eng. Mech., 129(7), 801–811.
McDowell, G. R., Harireche, O., Konietzky, H., Brown, S. F., Thom, N. H. (2006). “Discrete element modelling of geogrid-reinforced aggregates.” Proc., Institution of Civil Engineers: Geotech. Eng., 159 (GEI), 35–48.
Mengelt, M. J., Edil, T. B., and Benson, C. H. (2000). “Reinforcement of flexible pavements using geocells.” Geo. Eng. Rep. 00-04, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
Moghaddas-Nejad, F., and Small, J. C. (2003). “Resilient and permanent characteristics of reinforced granular materials by repeated load triaxial tests.” J. ASTM Geotech. Test., 26(2), 152–166.
National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). (2004). “Laboratory determination of resilient modulus for flexible pavement design.” NCHRP Research Result Digest 285, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Washington, DC.
Nazzal, M. (2007). “Laboratory characterization and numerical modeling of geogrid-reinforced bases in flexible pavements.” Ph.D. dissertation, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA.
Perkins, S. W. (2002). “Evaluation of geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavement systems using two pavement test facilities.” FHWA/MT-02-008/20040, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Perkins, S. W. (2004). “Development of design methods for geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavements.” DTFH61-01-X-00068, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Perkins, S. W., and Ismeik, M. (1997). “A synthesis and evaluation of geosynthetic-reinforced base layers in flexible pavements, part I.” Geosynthetics Int., 4(6), 549–604.
Schuettpelz, C., Fratta, D., and Edil, T. B. (2009). “Evaluation of the zone of influence and stiffness improvement from geogrid reinforcement in granular materials.” Transportation Research Record 2116, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 76–84.
Tatsuoka, F. (1987). “Discussion of “The strength and dilatancy of sands by Bolton, M. D.” Geotechnique, 37(1), 219–226.
Tseng, K., and Lytton, R. (1989). “Prediction of permanent deformation in flexible pavement materials.” Implication of aggregates in the design, construction, and performance of flexible pavements, ASTM STP 1016, ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, 154–172.
Webster, S. L. (1979a). “Investigation of beach sand trafficability enhancement using sand-grid confinement and membrane reinforcement concepts. Rep. 1: Sand test sections 1 and 2.” Tech. Rep. GL-79-20, Geotechnical Laboratory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experimentation Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Webster, S. L. (1979b). “Investigation of beach sand trafficability enhancement using sand-grid confinement and membrane reinforcement concepts. Rep. 2: Sand test sections 3 and 4.” Tech. Rep. GL-79-20, Geotechnical Laboratory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experimentation Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Webster, S. L. (1992). “Geogrid reinforced base courses for flexible pavements for light aircraft, test section construction, behavior under traffic, laboratory tests, and design criteria.” Tech. Rep. GL-93-6, Geotechnical Laboratory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experimentation Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Yang, X. (2010). “Numerical analyses of geocell-reinforced granular soils under static and repeated loads.” Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
Yang, X., Han, J., Leshchinsky, D., and Parsons, R. L. (2012). “A three-dimensional mechanistic-empirical model for geocell-reinforced unpaved roads.” Acta Geotech., 8(2), 201–283.
Yang, X., Han, J., Parsons, R. L., and Leshchinsky, D. (2010). “Three-dimensional numerical modeling of single geocell-reinforced sand.” Front. Archit. Civ. Eng. China, 4(2), 233–240.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 18, 2011
Accepted: Dec 17, 2012
Published online: Dec 19, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.