Abstract The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of microfiber reinforcement on reducing swelling/shrinkage potentials and controlling the plasticity of weak soils as an alternative road stabilization strategy. To accomplish the objectives, multi-scale experimental studies will proceed in parallel. To evaluate fundamental geotechnical properties of fiber-reinforced soils, various elemental tests including strength and swelling tests will be conducted. Especially, a large-scale track wheel (LSTW) test with multiple non-destructive sensors (full-scale level), which is a unique testing apparatus in the Mid-west, will be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of fiber-reinforced soils close to field conditions.
Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of microfiber reinforcement on reducing swelling/shrinkage potentials and controlling the plasticity of weak soils as an alternative road stabilization strategy. Currently, there are no well-defined provisions regarding microfiber reinforcement design for subgrade soils. Thus, a systematic study is needed to help NDOT facilitate its usage of fiber-reinforced subgrade stabilization. The scope of work includes: 1) extensive literature review from other states’ cases and practices that applied microfiber reinforcement to weak soils, in particular, subgrade stabilization, 2) evaluate geotechnical properties including strength and stiffness of fiber-reinforced soils as of NE soils mixed with fiber reinforcement at various percentages (0% to 2% wt), 3) compare the performance of lime stabilized and fiber-reinforced subgrade soils via the Large Scale Track Wheel (LSTW) test, and 4) the site-specific applicability and cost-effectiveness of microfiber-reinforced subgrade will be identified. This project is directly related to the focus areas of the Mid-America Transportation Center in enhancing the safety of road conditions and improving roadway serviceability.
Impacts/Benefits The proposed research will develop a large-scale track wheel test and provide the relationship between resilient modulus and design parameters of soil/aggregate- microfiber reinforcement interactions for the design and analysis of microfiber-reinforced pavement systems. The results of this research project will contain a performance chart of microfiber-reinforced roadway pavements with the selected sets of soil conditions, aggregate types, and the types and amount of microfiber reinforcement. This project is directly related to the focus areas of the Mid-America Transportation Center in enhancing the safety of road conditions and improving roadway serviceability.
Deliverables
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