Developing a Standard Test Method for Measuring Geosynthetic-Soild Resilient Interface Shear - UTC

Establish specific test protocols to determine parameters pertinent to geosynthetic reinforced pavement design. These testing protocols will be used to establish best practices for conducting cyclic pullout tests such that these protocols can be incorporated into American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) testing standards.

When geosynthetics are used to reinforce the base course layers of flexible pavements, one of the main design parameters is the interaction between the geosynthetic and the surrounding aggregates. The most relevant interaction tests use cyclic loads like those experienced in transportation applications. Currently there is no standard test to quantify soil/geosynthetic interaction using cyclic loads. Eli Cuelho and researchers working in the Materials Laboratory at WTI are striving to establish specific test protocols pertinent to geosynthetic reinforced pavement design. These protocols will be used to establish best practices for conducting cyclic pullout tests so that these protocols can be incorporated into American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) testing standards, and so be used with consistency by testing laboratories. The anticipated benefits for state transportation departments include development of performance-based specifications for geosynthetic products used in pavement reinforcement applications, and the establishment of testing methods that can be referenced when incorporating reinforced pavement design into a national mechanistic-empirical design guide.