Performance evaluation of geocell-reinforced pavements overlying black cotton soil

Abstract

The study conducted full-scale field trials in Dholera to examine the performance of geocell-reinforced and unreinforced pavements on expansive subgrades. Three geocell-reinforced sections (S-2 on expansive subgrade, S-4 on lime-treated subgrade, and S-5 on lime-treated subgrade with reduced base) and two unreinforced sections (S-1 on expansive subgrade and S-3 on lime-treated subgrade) were constructed. Performance was evaluated using static plate load tests and falling weight deflectometer tests. Geocell reinforcement enhances pavement bearing capacity, reduces subgrade vertical stress, and offers potential reductions in life-cycle costs and annual greenhouse gas emissions. Section S-2 showed higher bearing capacity compared to those of section S-3, highlighting the efficacy of reinforced sections over traditional stabilization. The study found that solely relying on lime treatment for expansive soil is not very effective, but combining it with geocells significantly improves pavement performance. Section S-4 showed the highest improvement in pavement performance, with a bearing capacity improvement factor of 3.04, modulus improvement factor of 2.26, and service life ratio of 2.61. The comparable performance of sections S-4 and S-5 suggests that section S-5 offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative with satisfactory performance. Additionally, numerical analysis confirms the reliability of the field results as a valuable resource for researchers.