TECHNICAL NOTE

GEOSYNTHETIC REINFORCEMENT OF
THE AGGREGATE BASE/SUBBASE
COURSES OF PAVEMENT STRUCTURES

Prepared by
TenCateTM Geosynthetics North America
365 South Holland Drive
Pendergrass, GA 30567
Tel 706 693 2226
Fax 706 693 4400
www.tencate.com

Revised: May 18, 2010

1
 TECHNICAL NOTE

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) contracted independent consultants to

prepare a White Paper (WP II) on the use of geosynthetic reinforcement of the aggregate
base and sub base courses of pavement structures. This White Paper is a non-biased,
industry-adopted document developed to support the efforts of the AASHTO 4E Task Group
in its efforts to develop specifications for geosynthetic reinforcements in this application.
Specific objectives of the White Paper are as follows:

 Define geosynthetic reinforcement applications in roads,

 Conduct a literature review on the use of geosynthetics in these referenced applications
 Define the value added to pavement structures by the use of reinforcement,
 Provide a recommended design practice, and
 Provide design and material specifications

The purpose of this Technical Note is to summarize each of these specific objectives of the
White Paper as presented by the authors, with revisions and updates based on recent
developments.

Definition of Applications
Pavement System Reinforcement -the use of a geosynthetic to aid in support of traffic loads.
Traffic loads may be vehicular loads experienced over the life of the pavement or construction
equipment loads on the unpaved base course or sub base imposed during construction.

Base (or Subbase) Reinforcement -the use of a geosynthetic as a tensile element at the
bottom of a base (or sub base) or within a base course to:
1) improve the service life, and/or
2) obtain equivalent performance with a reduced structural section.

Base reinforcement is applicable for the support of vehicular traffic over the life of the
pavement and is designed to address the pavement distress mode of permanent surface
deformation or rutting and asphalt fatigue cracking.

Subgrade Restraint -the use of a geosynthetic at the subgrade/sub base or subgrade/base

interface to increase the support of construction equipment over a weak or low strength
subgrade. The primary result of this application is increased bearing capacity. Lateral restraint
and/or tension membrane effects may also contribute to load-carrying capacity. Subgrade
restraint is the reinforcing component of stabilization.

Demonstration of Value-Added to Pavement Structure

The following benefits of using geosynthetics in roadways are identified:

1. Reducing the intensity of stress on the subgrade (function: separation).

2
 TECHNICAL NOTE
2. Preventing subgrade fines from pumping into the base (function: filtration).
3. Preventing contamination of the base materials allowing more open-graded, free-
draining aggregates to be considered in the design (function: filtration).
4. Reducing the depth of excavation required for the removal of unsuitable subgrade
materials (function: separation and reinforcement).
5. Reducing the thickness of aggregate required to stabilize the subgrade (function:
separation and reinforcement).
6. Minimizing disturbance of the subgrade during construction (function: separation and
reinforcement).
7. Assisting the increase in subgrade strength over time (function: filtration).
8. Minimizing the differential settlement of the roadway, which helps maintain pavement
integrity and uniformity (function: reinforcement).
9. Minimizing maintenance and extending the life of the pavement (functions: all).

Benefit, or value-added, is expressed in terms of "life extension" or "savings in base course

thickness". Extension of life is defined in terms of a Traffic Benefit Ratio (TBR). TBR is defined
as the ratio of the number of cycles necessary to reach a given rut depth for a test section
containing reinforcement to the number of cycles necessary to reach this same rut depth for an
unreinforced section with the same section thickness and subgrade properties. The base
course reduction (BCR) is expressed as a percentage savings of the unreinforced base
thickness.

The results of laboratory and field test sections have been found to vary substantially. There
are many variables that may affect the performance results of a particular test such as
geosynthetic type and properties, subgrade strength, loading conditions, base course
thickness and properties. A summary of results from laboratory and field test sections is
provided in Table 1.

Table 1. Summary of laboratory and field test sections

TBR BCR
Geotextiles:
Range 1 - 220 22 - 33%
Typical Values 1.5 - 10
Geogrids:
Range 0.8 – 670 30 - 50%
Typical Values 1.5 - 70
Geogrid/Geotextile Composite:
Range * *
Typical Values * *

* Insufficient data to provide range or typical values

Other important findings from laboratory and/or field studies include the following:

3
 TECHNICAL NOTE
1) Several studies indicated an optimum benefit when the geosynthetic was placed at the
bottom of a 200-300 mm thick base layer.
2) For thicker base sections, the most beneficial reinforcement location appeared to be in
the middle of the base, where geogrids were found to perform best.
3) For thin bases (less than 200 mm), lack of separation was noted as a potential
problem for geogrids. Geotextiles or GG-GT composites tend to perform better
for the thin bases, especially where subgrade strengths were below a CBR of 3.
4) Reinforcement benefits were observed with subgrade strengths up to a CBR of 8.
In at least one study, some benefit was found at even greater subgrade strengths.
However, there does appear to be a relation of decreasing reinforcement benefits
with increasing subgrade strength.

Recommended Design Practice

Base Reinforcement. The mechanisms of geosynthetic base reinforcement are not fully
understood. Therefore, performance of geosynthetics in base reinforcement applications must
be determined by product-specific testing. Laboratory and/or field tests with specific products,
similar pavement materials and cross-sections, and similar subgrade conditions are required to
quantify the contribution of the geosynthetic reinforcement to the pavement performance.
Design procedures incorporate the results of product-specific testing and use a traffic benefit
ratio (TBR), base course reduction (BCR) percentage, or layer coefficient ratio (LCR) value.

Base reinforcement design includes the following steps: 1) assess applicability, 2) perform an
unreinforced design, 3) select the target benefit in terms of service life improvement and/or
reduced structural section, 4) evaluate the benefit offered by various geosynthetics in terms of
TBR, BCR, or LCR, 5) perform base course reinforcement design, 6) perform life-cycle cost
analysis.

Subgrade Restraint. Design procedures for subgrade restraint/stabilization are well

documented in technical literature and include Barenberg (1980); Steward et al. (1977); Giroud
and Noiray (1982); and FHWA (Christopher and Holtz, 1985; Holtz et al., 1998). Subgrade
restraint design is essentially the same as stabilization design, except that a reinforcement
modulus value may be required in addition to the properties of interest in stabilization, which
are related to filtration and survivability.

For some projects, particularly those with a base and sub base, two layers of geosynthetic
reinforcement may be used to provide both subgrade restraint and base reinforcement. Each
layer of reinforcement may be independently designed for such applications.

Material Properties

The manner in which geosynthetic material properties affect reinforcement benefit, defined by
TBR, BCR, and LCR, are not fully understood at this time. Therefore, TBR, BCR, and LCR
4
 TECHNICAL NOTE
values must be developed by product-specific testing in each unique environment. While the
ratio coefficients are considered to be product-specific for base and sub base reinforcement
applications, the following properties are considered to influence performance: tensile strength
at 1%, 2% and 5% strain, coefficients of pullout and direct shear, aperture size (grids), and
percent open area (geotextiles). More recent tests indicate a possible correlation between
aggregate confinement and performance. Junction strength is viewed as an index property
specific to the manufacture method of products. Research has not conclusively demonstrated
the affect, if any, of stiffness properties including flexural rigidity and aperture stability on
geosynthetic performance. For subgrade restraint applications, the properties of tensile
strength at 2% and 5% strain are primarily related to geosynthetic performance.

®
Mirafi Construction Products -Position Statement
® ®
Mirafi Construction Products(Mirafi CP) offers the widest range of products available in the
®
geosynthetic market. Therefore, without bias toward any particular product, Mirafi CP
proposes the use of specific products for the appropriate application with the ultimate objective
of maximizing performance.

There are three general applications for the use of geosynthetic reinforcement in pavements.
®
Mirafi CP offers the following guidance for these three distinct applications:
®
1. Weak Subgrade (CBR < 3). When a weak subgrade exists, a Mirafi HP-Series, high-
performance, woven geotextile should be placed at the subgrade interface. In addition,
if the required base course section is greater than 250 mm (10 in), a second layer of
®
reinforcement, a rigid, biaxial geogrid, the BasXgrid series, should be placed in the
®
middle of the base course section. Figure 1 illustrates the application of Mirafi CP
products when weak subgrade conditions exist.
®
Figure 1. Application of Mirafi Products in Weak Subgrade Conditions

(a). Weak Subgrade, Base Course Section < 250 mm

Base Course
____________________________ Mirafi ®HPGeotextile
Subgrade

5
 TECHNICAL NOTE

(b).Weak Subgrade, Base Course Section > 250 mm

Base Course
®
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ BasXgrid
Base or Subbase Course
________________________________ MirafiHP ®Geotextile

Subgrade

2. Firm Subgrade (CBR > 3), Thin (< 250 mm) Base Sections. When a firm subgrade and
®
relatively thin base course section is designed, Mirafi CP suggests placing a rigid,
®
biaxial geogrid, the BasXgrid series, at the subgrade interface. Figure 2a illustrates the
®
application of Mirafi CP products for this condition.

3. Firm Subgrade (CBR > 3), Thick (> 250 mm) Base Sections. When a firm subgrade
®
and relatively thick base course section is designed, Mirafi CP suggests placing a rigid,
®
biaxial geogrid, the BasXgrid series, in the middle of the base course section. Figure
®
2b illustrates the application of Mirafi CP products for this condition.

® ®
Figure 2. Application of Mirafi CP Products in Firm Subgrade Conditions Mirafi Construction
Products’ Specifications

(a). Firm Subgrade, Base Course Section < 250 mm

Base Course
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BasXgrid®
Subgrade

6
 TECHNICAL NOTE

(b). Firm Subgrade, Base Course Section > 250 mm

Base Course

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BasXgrid®
Base or Subbase Course

_______________________________
Subgrade

®
Mirafi Construction Products offers standard CSI format specifications for Base.

References
Bender, D.A. and Barenberg, E.J., 1980, "Design and Behavior of Soil-Fabric-Aggregate
Systems", Transportation Research Record 671, TRB, National Research Council, Washington
DC, USA, pp. 64-75.
Berg, R.R., Christopher, B.R., and Perkins, S., 2000, Geosynthetic Reinforcement of the
Aggregate Base/Subbase Courses of Pavement Structures, Geosynthetic Materials
Association, Roseville, MN.

Giroud, J.P. and Noiray, L., 1981, "Geotextile Reinforced Unpaved Road Design", Journal of
the Geotechnical Engineering Division, ASCE, Vol. 107, No GT9, pp. 12331254.

Holtz, R.D., Christopher, B.R., and Berg, R.R., 1995, Geosynthetic Design and Construction
Guidelines, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, FHWA-A-HI-
95, National Highway Institute Course No. 13213, Washington, DC, pg. 396.

Steward, J.E., Williamson, R., and Mohney, J., 1977, "Guidelines for Use of Fabrics in
Construction and Maintenance of Low-Volume Roads", USDA, Forest Service Report PB-276 972,
Portland, OR.

Disclaimer: TenCate assumes no liability for the accuracy or completeness of this information
or for the ultimate use by the purchaser. TenCate disclaims any and all express, implied, or
statutory standards, warranties or guarantees, including without limitation any implied warranty
as to merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or arising from a course of dealing or
usage of trade as to any equipment, materials, or information furnished herewith. This
document should not be construed as engineering advice.
© 2010 TenCate Geosynthetics North America
7