Stress Distribution on the Kaolinite Layer: A Study

This paper present the technique of ground improvement using geotextile is extensively used in the construction of unpaved roads, fabrication yards, parking spaces, etc. When the underlying soil is soft, having poor consistency and high compressibility, a geotextile layer can be placed over the subgrade followed by a compacted granular fill layer. Although the basic functions of the geotextile are reasonably well understood, there are few data from field trials involving traffic loading that allows the relative improvement in performance of a road section with a geotextile to be quantified. This field test describes the performance of an unpaved- road trafficking trial at Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.)[1]. The response to traffic loading of four test sections, each stabilized with a different geotextile, is compared with that of an unreinforced test section. Interpretation of the data addresses the development of ruts, subgrade deformations, strain in the geotextile, and the implications of the field observations for current design methods. Geotextiles are also found helpful in reducing settlement and rutting depth. For a given design condition, these improvements lead to a reduced amount of aggregate material and time required for construction and extending of the service life. Geotextile mainly provides separation between base course and subgrade. An analytical approach to the design of geotextile-reinforced unpaved roads was first introduced by Giroud and Noiray (1981)[2].