Geosynthetics June/July 2019 - 31

Conclusions and
recommendations
Medium-scale cyclic plate load tests were
performed on 10 representative airport
pavement structure test items under simulated aircraft loading conditions. Five
geosynthetic products were tested at two
distinct locations. Analyses of the results
yielded the following conclusions:
1. Incorporating geosynthetic products within thicker airport pavement
structures provides a performance
benefit through rut resistance properties, as identified in the TBR Phase I
values greater than 1.
2. Incorporating geosynthetic products
within airport pavement structures
can provide improved performance
while reducing base course thickness,
as shown in Phase I Test Item 2.
3. Geosynthetic products placed at the
subbase/subgrade interface in relatively
thicker airport pavements provide less
performance benefit compared to geosynthetics placed at the base course/
subbase interface. Geosynthetic products placed deeper in thicker airport
pavement structure require increased
loading and deformation to achieve
a realized benefit, which may be less
desirable on airport pavements.
In conclusion, this research demonstrates geogrids and geotextiles properly
designed and selected for the function of
reinforcement/stabilization within flexible airport pavements can provide an
improved pavement performance benefit.
However, there seems to be a consensus
among existing literature and industry
professionals that quantifying these pavement performance benefits attributed by
a specific geosynthetic product at a given
location remains a challenge. Therefore,
it is recommended that the FAA continue
to incorporate various geosynthetic products in future research and construction
cycles to further investigate the pavement
performance benefits.

Acknowledgments
The work described in this article
was funded by the Federal Aviation
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( FA A ) A i r p o r t
Technology Research and Development
Branch and performed at the U.S. Army
Engineering Research and Development
Center (ERDC). The authors would like
to acknowledge support of the ERDC
staff for test item construction and
data collection.

Disclaimer
The contents of this article reflect the
views of the authors, who are responsible
for the facts and accuracy of the data
presented within. The contents do not
necessarily reflect the official views and
policies of the FAA or U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. The article does not constitute
a standard, specification or regulation.
References
Abu-Farsakh, M., Hanandeh, S., Mohammand, L.,
and Chen, Q. (2016). "Performance of geosynthetic
reinforced/stabilized paved roads built over
soft soil under cyclic plate load." Geotextiles and
Geomembranes, 44(6), 845-853.

This research
demonstrates geogrids
and geotextiles properly
designed and selected
for the function
of reinforcement/
stabilization within
flexible airport
pavements can provide
an improved pavement
performance benefit.

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>> For more, search Airport at
www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com.

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