Full-scale testing and monitoring of geosynthetics-stabilized flexible pavement in Alberta, Canada

Freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles are a primary contributor of pavement damages in seasonal frost regions. Geosynthetics stabilization has been a promising solution for enhancing the roadways performance in cold regions. However, in comparison with the practical applications, research on the geosynthetics stabilization in cold-region roads is scarce and its efficacy is yet to be quantified. This study presents the full-scale test on geosynthetics-stabilized sections in a flexible pavement in Sturgeon County, Alberta. It focused on the investigation of three separate test sections with bases stabilized by two types of geocells and one geogrid composite, each fully instrumented with earth pressure cells, thermocouples, and moisture sensors. This experimental program consisted of plate loading tests and trafficking tests on each test section before and after the first F-T season, and monitoring of soil temperatures, moisture contents, and loads transferred to subbases while the sections were open to general traffic. The results showed seasonal F-T cycles resulted in increased pavement settlement, decreased load transfer ratio, and increased stress distribution angle under the plate loading. The traffic-induced stress on the subbases increased during the spring thaw but decreased afterwards. • Fully instrumented full-scale short-term tests on geosynthetics stabilized bases in pavements in cold regions. • Long-term monitoring of the geosynthetics-stabilized bases over the first seasonal freeze-thaw cycle. • The seasonal freeze and thaw resulted in increased settlement of pavement, decreased load transfer ratio under plate loading. • The traffic-induced stress on the subbases increased during the spring thaw but decreased afterwards. • 300-mm Type-C NPA geocell bases performed equivalently as the 350-mm geogrid bases throughout the first freeze-thaw season. • Type-C NPA geocell section gained the post-thaw recovery sooner than the geogrid composite section.