Full scale laboratory testing on geosynthetics reinforced paved roads

The resistance to traffic loads of geosynthetics reinforced paved roads over soft soil has been investigated by means of extensive full scale laboratory testing, consisting of measuring the settlements distribution in a reinforced section when stressed cyclically with a load simulating a truck wheel. The rut depths were measured as a function of the number of cycles, of the aggregate thickness, of the subgrade shear strength and of the reinforcement type. The ability of the reinforcement to distribute the load over a wider subgrade surface area was monitored and analysed. The results of the reinforced sections have been compared with the corresponding unreinforced sections showing the advantages of the use of geosynthetics in increasing the road service life and savings in aggregate thickness.