Evaluating the Performance of Wicking Geotextile in Providing Drainage for Flexible Pavements Built over Expansive Soils

Abstract

The longevity and performance of a pavement section depend on the characteristics of the subgrade soil. A majority of the pavements in North Texas, U.S., are constructed on expansive soils. The deterioration of the pavement performance because of rutting, cracking, and differential heaving is a regular phenomenon in the regions predominantly distributed with expansive soils. The pavements, particularly those built for low-volume traffic conditions, experience distress because of the high swelling and shrinkage characteristics of the underlying problematic soils. Geosynthetics have been traditionally used to improve such poor subgrades because of their many benefits, such as ease of installation, and ample mechanical and hydraulic properties. In the last decade, a newly available wicking geotextile, with a moisture redistribution capacity, has been developed to improve the performance of pavements constructed over expansive and frozen soils. In this study, small-scale laboratory and full-scale field studies were conducted to comprehend the wicking ability of this innovative geotextile in an expansive soil environment. Full-scale test sections were constructed with reclaimed asphalt pavement aggregate and traditional crushed stone aggregates in the base layer near North Texas. Details of the construction and instrumentation procedure are discussed in this paper. A comparative study between the performance of the pavement sections subjected to traffic loads and moisture intrusion was also performed. Furthermore, the rutting life of the sections, estimated using a linear elastic model, was compared and validated using the in situ data. The observations during the initial phase indicated that the wicking geotextile has the potential to improve the long-term pavement performance.

Exploring the Influence of Climate Change on Earthen Embankments with Expansive Soil

“…In this region, the montmorillonite-rich Eagle Ford Shale clay from the upper Cretaceous period is expansive in nature [8]. To mitigate the adverse effects of these soils, different rehabilitation strategies have been employed in the region [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Untreated forms of expansive soils typically undergo high swell-shrink characteristics with a variation in the moisture regime.…”

“…In addition to the intensity of rainfall, other factors such as the characteristics of rainfall, previous precipitation, soil properties, and topography also play a role in the failure of a slope [29]. This issue becomes amplified when we consider the distress in expansive soils caused by droughtlike conditions [17,30,31]. Any drought-like condition followed by intense precipitation can cause severe damage to earthen structures, which are anticipated to be negatively impacted by climate change [31][32][33].…”

A Multiphysics Simulation of the Effects of Wicking Geotextile on Mitigating Frost Heave under Cold Region Pavement

“…In addition, excessive water in pavement layers can result in a range of pavement distresses, including reduced strength and stiffness of geomaterials, soil particle erosion, freeze-thaw cycles, and durability cracking in concrete [4]. Wicking geotextile, a recent advancement in geosynthetic materials, offers a promising solution to these challenges in pavement structures [5]. Unlike traditional geotextiles, which primarily serve separation, filtration, and reinforcement purposes but offer limited efficacy in water drainage during unsaturated conditions, wicking geotextiles, composed of hydrophilic and hygroscopic nylon fiber yarns, exhibit the capability to laterally drain water in both saturated and unsaturated states [6][7][8].…”

Evaluation of Geopolymer for Stabilization of Sulfate-Rich Expansive Soils for Supporting Pavement Infrastructure

“…Expansive soils are prevalent in different parts of the world and cause moderate to severe damage to overlying infrastructures ( 1 , 2 ). These soils are vulnerable to extensive swelling and shrinkage strains from moisture-induced fluctuations ( 3 – 6 ).…”

“…Ettringite, Ca 6 (Al(OH) 6 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ċ26H 2 O), a calcium-alumino-sulfate mineral is precipitated when alumina available from the dissolution of clay in alkaline environments (pH > 10.5) reacts with Ca +2 from Ca-based stabilizers and soluble sulfates in the presence of water ( 1 , 12 , 13 , 16 ). Stoichiometrically, ettringite crystals could undergo a potential volumetric expansion up to 137% ( 7 , 17 ).…”