Road Design on Low Bearing Capacity Soils

Abstract

Soil with weak bearing capacity, like peat and organic grounds, is widespread in Latvia. During the geotechnical investigation for road reconstruction projects, in many cases the discovered soils with low physical-mechanical properties are located below the existing road structure. It is a challenge for a road design engineer to find a way how to ensure road loadbearing capacity and prevent the occurrence of various deformations. Various methods and technologies for ground structure reinforcement and stabilization are being developed worldwide. During design of road structures, it is important to analyse the geotechnical situation and to identify the main reasons why deformations could occur in the ground layers under the road structure. Each of the developed technologies for weak and unstable soil reinforcement, stabilization is designed to solve a specific problem. Inaccurately and carelessly identifying the causes of problems, road deformations can affect the performance of the recently designed road and even make the existing problem worse. The aim of this paper is to show the soil strengthening methods used in Latvia and to analyse the benefits and disadvantages of these methods.