Significance of fabric deformation shape at subgrade in design of reinforced flexible pavements

Abstract

Synthetic geotextiles are being used in construction of flexible pavements over weak soil subgrades. They are in use as separator between layers of pavement, drain, filter and reinforcement at subgrade level. The information on reinforced flexible pavements is still in development stage, particularly with respect to soft soil subgrades. As strengths of geotextile fabrics mobilised are functions of strain induced in them, selection of the deformed shape of fabric at subgrade plays a vital role in design. So, in the present paper, an attempt has been made to stress the importance of fabric deformation shape in design and to finalise appropriate fabric deformed shape through analytical and experimental studies. The effect of consideration of different forms of fabric deformed shapes has been dealt in detail through a proposed reinforced flexible pavement design over clay of high compressibility.