Geotextile Separator or Stabilizer for Road Construction
Geotextile has been widely applied in road construction to make construction costs more economical. Used as a geotextile separator or stabilizer, it can reduce aggregate thickness and extend the service life of the road. A single layer of geotextile can typically save 1/3 of the aggregate base thickness for roads on soft to medium subgrade (Shukla & Yin, 2006).
Whether geotextile functions as a separator or a stabilizer in road construction is determined by the bearing capacity of the subgrade. This bearing capacity parameter can be seen from the CBR value or the shear strength.
- If the soil CBR is above 3%, a separator geotextile is selected.
- If the soil CBR is between 1%-3%, a stabilizer geotextile is selected.
Geotextile Separator and Stabilizer
For geotextile used on soil with CBR > 3%, its reinforcement effect becomes less significant, so its main function is only as a separator. When geotextile is installed on soil with a soaked CBR of 1-3%, the geosynthetic functions as a separator, filter and reinforcement. This geosynthetic function is called a stabilizer.
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Separator
In road construction, subgrade particles can mix with the aggregate layer. This mixing reduces strength and stiffness, so bearing capacity decreases. This leads to damage and early failure of the road. Geotextile can act as a separator, preventing the subgrade material from mixing with the aggregate.
When geotextile is used as a separator, its strength only guarantees the survivability of the material during construction and the road’s service life, so the separator geotextile layer does not contribute to the bearing capacity of the road structure.
Geotextile Separator and Stabilizer
Stabilizer
In road construction, geotextile as a stabilizer provides reinforcement to the road through the following mechanisms:
- Lateral restraint of the aggregate layer and subgrade through friction and interlock between the aggregate, soil and geotextile
- The geotextile’s membrane effect under wheel loads
In an aggregate layer traveled by vehicles, the aggregate tends to move. Soft subgrade provides very little lateral resistance, so when the aggregate moves, ruts form on the surface. Geotextile has a good ability to resist tension against lateral movement of the aggregate.
Geotextile Separator and Stabilizer
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