Structural Capacity Enhancement of Geosynthetic-reinforced Asphalt Overlays: Full-Scale APT Evaluation and Design Implications

Structural Capacity Enhancement of Geosynthetic-reinforced Asphalt Overlays: Full-Scale APT Evaluation and Design Implications | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Structural Capacity Enhancement of Geosynthetic-reinforced Asphalt Overlays: Full-Scale APT Evaluation and Design Implications Natalia Correia, V. Vinay Kumar, Jorge Gabriel Zornberg This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9173454/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Geosynthetics are commonly used in pavement systems to mitigate reflective cracking; however, their potential contribution to improving the structural capacity of asphalt overlays has not been fully quantified. This study evaluates the structural benefits of geosynthetic paving interlayers using full-scale instrumented pavement models tested in an Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) facility.Asphalt strain gauges were used to monitor tensile strains under repeated wheel loading. By quantifying stable response parameters such as tensile strain reduction, rutting rate reduction, and modulus Improvement Ratio (MIR), this work provides the experimental and analytical foundation required for the development of simplified design modification approaches. The geogrid-reinforced section exhibited reductions of approximately 38% in cumulative plastic displacement, 38% in rut depth, and over 50% in tensile strain at the bottom of the distressed asphalt layer compared with the unreinforced section. These reductions indicate an apparent increase in the modulus of the asphalt layer, quantified through a MIR of 2.85. The experimentally derived MIR was incorporated into an empirical pavement design framework based on the AASHTO 1993 methodology, allowing the structural benefits to be translated into design parameters such as increased structural number (SN) or reduced asphalt thickness. A design example indicated that the reinforced system could result in a 32% reduction in asphalt thickness for a design traffic of 30 million standard axles. Findings highlight the potential of geosynthetic paving interlayers not only for reflective cracking mitigation but also as a structural reinforcement mechanism capable of improving pavement performance and enabling more efficient pavement designs. Geosynthetics accelerated pavement testing structural response asphalt strain pavement design. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9173454","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":612640245,"identity":"aa1a69fc-ed2f-435f-89d9-b5efe9f1372f","order_by":0,"name":"Natalia Correia","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAwElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYPACCQZ+BsYHYKYB0VokG5gNSNICVHmAWC3m7IePfa6osJA3vpHM/OFHzT0Gc+kD+LVY9qQlzzxzRsJw241kNsmeY8UMln0JBNxzg8eYsbFNgnHbjfxjzAxsCQwGZwh5Aazln4T95hnJzJ8Z/hGtpUEicYNEMoM0YxsxWs6kJTM2HJNInnHmMZtkb18Cj2UPIS3HDx9mbKips+1vB4XYtwQ5cx4CWjAAyRpGwSgYBaNgFGABAMijPJbYqGgAAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Federal University of São Carlos","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Natalia","middleName":"","lastName":"Correia","suffix":""},{"id":612640246,"identity":"6ae80b55-6272-4fb0-8886-c40b8027fd13","order_by":1,"name":"V. 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This study evaluates the structural benefits of geosynthetic paving interlayers using full-scale instrumented pavement models tested in an Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) facility.Asphalt strain gauges were used to monitor tensile strains under repeated wheel loading. \u0026nbsp;By quantifying stable response parameters such as tensile strain reduction, rutting rate reduction, and modulus Improvement Ratio (MIR), this work provides the experimental and analytical foundation required for the development of simplified design modification approaches. The geogrid-reinforced section exhibited reductions of approximately 38% in cumulative plastic displacement, 38% in rut depth, and over 50% in tensile strain at the bottom of the distressed asphalt layer compared with the unreinforced section. These reductions indicate an apparent increase in the modulus of the asphalt layer, quantified through a MIR of 2.85. 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