Articles
DOI DOI: 10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1158

USING GEOGRID REINFORCEMENT AS A REPLACEMENT OF CONVENTIONAL SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT FOR RIGID PAVEMENTS OVER WEAK SUBGRADES

Wissam N. Abdulkhabeer1, Ali M. Aldahaw 1, Ahmed S. Abduljabbar 1
  1. 1 Department of Highway and Geotechnical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

Addressing weak subgrades in rigid pavements is challenging due to inadequate subgrade support, leading to increased slab deflections and tensile strains with an associated decline in long-term performance. Improving support with granular subbases is the conventional method. However, these methods entail higher material and construction costs. Geogrid reinforcement offers an alternative improvement. However, the number of studies comparing geogrid reinforcement with conventional support improvement methods under full-scale loading is very limited.

This research aims to assess the performance of biaxial geogrid reinforcement as a replacement for the conventional support improvement systems of rigid pavements on weak subgrades. Accelerated load testing (ALT) was performed to assess the performance of three pavements: (i) Weak Subgrade with no treatment, (ii) Geogrid Reinforced, and (iii) 250 mm thick Granular Subbase pavement under full-scale loading. The experimental procedure comprised a total of 787,500 cycles of a moving wheel load. Structural pavement performance was monitored using a total of 10 Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs) and 4 embedded strain gauges. This resulted in a total of over 113 million measurements.

The study shows that both support enhancement strategies improved pavement performance. In the case of the untreated weak subgrade, it was shown that the reinforcement of the subgrade by a biaxial geogrid led to a reduction in the average slab deflection of about 41.8% and a reduction in average tensile strain of about 40.6%. Conventional support improvement resulted in a reduction of average deflection and average tensile strain of about 52.3% and 49.7%, respectively. From the performance equivalency analysis, it was estimated that the geogrid reinforced section provided about 80% of the deflection improvement and about 82% of the reduction of the tensile strain provided by the granular subbase layer.

The results highlight that the biaxial geogrid reinforcement can achieve most of the structural benefits of the conventional support enhancement. While conventional support improvement was the most effective solution, geogrid reinforcement was a practical and effective solution for the construction of rigid pavements over weak subgrades. The results are significant for pavement engineers when devising strategies for foundation improvement while considering limitations in terms of finances, materials, and construction.

How to Cite

Abdulkhabeer, W. N., Aldahaw , A. M., & Abduljabbar , A. S. (2026). USING GEOGRID REINFORCEMENT AS A REPLACEMENT OF CONVENTIONAL SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT FOR RIGID PAVEMENTS OVER WEAK SUBGRADES. ACTA INNOVATIONS, 63, 913–930. https://doi.org/10.62441/actainnovations.v63i.1158
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