Geosynthetics in Road Pavement Design Methods

The use of geosynthetic materials such as geogrid, geotextile and geocomposite products in roads and pavements for reinforcement has been demonstrated to be a viable technology through studies conducted over many years. Research has shown the importance of design variables in the efficiency of geosynthetic materials. The use and specification of geosynthetics for pavement support is not well documented in Australia however. This represents a significant lost opportunity to reduce the use of granular pavement materials and provide a means of extending pavement life. Geosynthetics can achieve this and available design approaches to quantify the benefit of geosynthetics in road design is now well understood. Australia has a large land mass with a requirement to provide significant road infrastructure works within limited budgets. Geosynthetics can provide a cost effective approach to minimising road construction costs.

Current research findings will be presented as well as an overview of current international and local approaches and practices for design of pavements using geogrids and or geocomposite products. This is the opportunity to learn from leading world authorities in the design and specification techniques using geosynthetics in pavement applications.

About the speakers

Dr. Steve Perkins, P.E. is a Professor of Civil Engineering at Montana State University (MSU) where he teaches courses and conducts research in the areas of geotechnical and pavement engineering. Dr. Perkins has worked full-time as a consulting geotechnical engineer for several firms in the US and in Norway and regularly engages in part-time consultancy as a Professor at MSU. Dr. Perkins has a broad background in geotechnical and pavement engineering with expertise in geosynthetics, laboratory testing, stability and foundation analysis, numerical modelling and pavement design. Dr. Perkins has particular expertise in the area of geosynthetics in pavements with an emphasis on base reinforcement of flexible pavements. Dr. Perkins has co-authored several synthesis reports for NCHRP and AASHTO on research and practice of geosynthetics in pavements and has authored several chapters of text books on geosynthetics in engineering. Dr. Perkins’ main research thrust has been in the area of base reinforcement of flexible pavements.

Dr. Perkins has conducted research for the USA Federal Highways Authority (FHWA), several state transportation agencies, Scandinavian transportation agencies and geosynthetic manufacturers. Research in this area has involved full- scale reinforced pavement testing, laboratory testing of geosynthetic materials, numerical modelling and mechanistic- empirical design model development. Dr. Perkins is a member of the Transportation Research Board, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Testing and Materials, the International Geosynthetics Society, the North American Geosynthetics Society and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Montana.

Mr Jorg Klompmaker is a German qualified engineer specialising in soil reinforced structures, pavement engineering and waste management design issues. Jorg has been involved in the development of geosynthetic use in soil and asphalt reinforcement applications for several years. For the last thirteen years, Jorg has been employed by the German consultancy BBG as the Senior Technical Consultant engaged in Road and Railway Engineering, Reinforced Earth Structures (including embankments on soft soils), Landfill and Hydraulic Engineering. Jorg has a deep understanding of a wide range of geosynthetics that are commonly used in such applications. Jorg has either written, or co-authored some 70 technical publications that have been presented at various technical conferences throughout the world. Specifically, Jorg has co-authored with Dr. Perkins a number of technical papers that address design issues specifically associated with pavements.

Jorg is a member of a number of Technical Committees that include Technical Committee 210-Dams and Embankments – International Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering ISSMGE; Working Committee Ak 6.4 Landfill Technology- German Association for Geotechnics.

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