El proyecto de investigación tuvo por finalidad evaluar las geomallas triaxiales, como elementos de refuerzo en la interfaz Subrasante – Subbase de la estructura del pavimento flexible, con el objetivo de optimizar espesores del pavimento, aumentar la capacidad de soporte de la subrasante y prolongar la vida útil de pavimento. En este trabajo se presenta la aplicación de una metodología de diseño para el uso de geomallas triaxiales, con las especificaciones técnicas para el diseño aplicado de las geomallas en pavimentos flexibles en Perú. La metodología de diseño está centrada en las investigaciones del doctor J.P. Giroud y el doctor Jie Han, que presentan un efecto de confinamiento generado, entre las geomallas y la capa de material sobre la subrasante. Los suelos al ser sometidos a cargas de llantas tienden a deformarse, generando ahuellamiento sobre la superficie de rodadura. Con la presencia de geomallas en el suelo este ahuellamiento se reduce de manera exponencial (Giroud & Han, 2005). Para la metodología planteada se desarrolla un ejemplo aplicativo para el diseño reforzado, de una base pavimentada, con geomalla triaxial y otro sin refuerzo. Para este ejemplo se recolecto datos con ayuda de los formatos de clasificación vehicular del MTC, inspección visual de la vía para la evaluación del índice de condición del pavimento (PCI) y los ensayos de laboratorio; la cual fue ejecutada a lo largo de los 2.3 km aproximadamente, en el cual se observó que el PCI del tramo es de 21%, esto significa que el nivel de servicio de la vía es malo, es decir requiere la intervención inmediata. Mediante esta metodología el uso de geomallas implicó disminución de espesores de 33.33%, cabe recalcar que se debe tener en cuenta que cada diseño variará de acuerdo con el proyecto a ejecutarse, por ende, dependerá de las características del suelo, el tráfico vehicular y el refuerzo (Tipo de geomalla) utilizado. / The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the triaxial geogrids, as reinforcement elements in the Subgrade - Subbase interface of the flexible pavement structure, with the aim of optimizing pavement thicknesses, increasing the support capacity of the subgrade and prolonging the useful life of pavement. This paper presents the application of a design methodology for the use of triaxial geogrids, with the technical specifications for the applied design of geogrids inflexible pavements in Peru. The design methodology is focused on the investigations of Dr. J.P. Giroud and Dr. Jie Han, who present a generated confinement effect, between the geogrids and the layer of material on the subgrade. The floors when subjected to tire loads tend to deform, generating rutting on the running surface. With the presence of geogrids in the ground, this rutting is reduced exponentially (Giroud & Han, 2005). For the proposed methodology an application example is developed for the reinforced design, of a paved base, with triaxial geogrid and another without reinforcement. For this example, data was collected with the aid of the vehicle classification formats of the MTC, visual inspection of the road for the evaluation of the pavement condition index (PCI) and laboratory tests; which was executed along the approximately 2.3 km, in which it was observed that the PCI of the section is 21%, this means that the service level of the road is bad, that is, it requires immediate intervention. Through this methodology the use of geogrids implied a decrease in thickness of 33.33%, it should be noted that it must be taken into account that each design will vary according to the project to be executed, therefore, it will depend on the characteristics of the soil, vehicular traffic and reinforcement (Type of geogrid) used. / Trabajo de investigación

The objective of this research was to investigate the structural capacity of aggregate base materials stabilized with triaxial geogrid placed in a full-scale pavement involving control, or unstabilized, sections. Field testing was performed on a roadway in northeastern Utah that was 16 km (10 miles) long and included 10 test sections, seven stabilized sections and three control sections, each having five test locations. The pavement structure was comprised of a hot mix asphalt layer overlying an untreated aggregate base layer of varying thickness, depending on the test section. Except for the control sections, one or two layers of geogrid were incorporated into portions of the pavement structure at different locations. Falling-weight deflectometer testing and dynamic cone penetrometer testing were used to evaluate the structural capacity of the aggregate base layer in each pavement section. For data analysis, the Rohde's method was applied in conjunction with the 1993 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials pavement design guide methodology, and the Area under the Pavement Profile (AUPP) method was applied in conjunction with a mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis. Statistical analyses were then performed to enable comparisons of the test sections. Field results indicated that the asphalt layer thickness was consistently 140 mm (5.5 in.) at all 10 test sections, and the base layer thickness varied from 360 mm (14 in.) to 510 mm (20 in.). The results of the statistical analyses indicated that the majority of the 45 possible pairwise comparisons among the test sections were not statistically significant, meaning that variations in the presence and position of triaxial geogrid at those sections did not appear to affect the structural capacity. The remaining comparisons, however, were statistically significant and involved the test sections with the highest structural capacity. While one of these was unexpectedly an unstabilized control section, the others were constructed using one or two layers of geogrid in the base layer. In addition to being statistically significant, the observed differences were also practically important. Increases in the observed base layer coefficient from 0.12 to 0.18 correspond to an increase in the allowable number of equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) from 5.9 million to 19.2 million at the research site, while decreases in the observed AUPP value from 340 mm (13.37 in.) to 213 mm (8.38 in.) correspond to an increase in the allowable number of ESALs from 3.7 million to 17.3 million at the research site. These results indicate that, when geogrid reinforcement is compatible with the given aggregate base material and proper construction practices are followed, statistically significant and practically important increases in pavement design life can be achieved.

The objective of this research was to apply a previously recommended laboratory testing protocol to specific aggregate base materials that are also the subject of ongoing full-scale field testing. The scope of this research involved three aggregate base materials selected from three sites where full-scale field testing programs have been established. The first and second field sites included five different geogrid types, categorized as either biaxial or triaxial, in a singlelayer configuration, while the third site included only the triaxial geogrid type in either a singleor double-layer configuration. Geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized control specimens were evaluated using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials T 307 quick shear testing protocol. Measurements of load and axial displacement were recorded and used to develop a stress-strain plot for each specimen tested. The peak axial stress, the modulus to the peak axial stress, the modulus of the elastic portion of the curve, and the modulus at 2 percent strain were then calculated. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate differences between geogridstabilized specimens and unstabilized control specimens and to investigate differences between individual geogrid products or geogrid configurations. Depending on the method of data analysis, the quick shear test results indicate that geogrid stabilization, with the effect of geogrid stabilization averaged across all of the geogrid products evaluated in this study, may or may not improve the structural quality of the aggregate base materials evaluated in this study. The results also indicate that, regardless of the method of analysis, one geogrid product or configuration may be more effective than another at improving the structural quality of a given aggregate base material as measured using the quick shear test. All results from this research are limited in their application to the aggregate base material types, geogrid products, and geogrid configurations associated with this study. Additional research is needed to compare the results of the laboratory quick shear testing obtained for this study with the structural capacity of the geogrid-stabilized and unstabilized control sections that have been constructed at corresponding full-scale field testing sites. Specifically, further research is needed to determine which method of laboratory data analysis yields the best comparisons with field test results. Finally, correlations between the results of quick shear testing and resilient modulus need to be investigated in order to incorporate the findings of the quick shear test on geogrid-stabilized base materials into mechanistic-empirical pavement design.

The modulus of aggregate base layers in pavement structures can potentially be increased through the use of geogrid. However, methods for determining how much structural benefit can be expected from a given geogrid product have not been standardized. A laboratory testing protocol is therefore needed to enable evaluation, in terms of modulus or California bearing ratio (CBR), for example, of the degree of improvement that may be achieved by a given geogrid. Consequently, the objective of this research was to identify a laboratory test method that can be used to quantify improvements in structural capacity of aggregate base materials reinforced with geogrid. For this research, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 598 repeated load triaxial, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) T 307 quick shear, and CBR testing protocols were used to test unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced aggregate base materials from northern Utah. Biaxial and triaxial geogrid were investigated in multiple reinforcement configurations. Several statistical analyses were performed on the results of each test method to identify the test that is most likely to consistently show an improvement in the structural capacity of aggregate base materials reinforced with geogrid. The results of this research indicate that, for the methods and materials evaluated in this study, calculation of the modulus at 2 percent strain from the AASHTO T 307 quick shear data is the test method most likely to consistently show an improvement in structural capacity associated with geogrid reinforcement. Of the three configurations investigated as part of this research, placing the geogrid at an upper position within a specimen is preferred. Given that the end goal of the use of geogrid reinforcement is to improve pavement performance, additional research is needed to compare the results of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test obtained in the laboratory with the structural capacity of geogrid-reinforced aggregate base materials measured in the field. In addition, correlations between the results of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test and resilient modulus need to be investigated in order to incorporate the findings of the AASHTO T 307 quick shear test on reinforced base materials into mechanistic-empirical pavement design.

El presente proyecto de investigación tuvo por finalidad evaluar el uso del geocompuesto (geomalla Triaxial y geomembrana HDPE), como refuerzo en la interfaz subrasante-subbase de una estructura de pavimento flexible. Para ello, se propone un diseño de estructura de pavimento reforzado con geocompuesto en un tramo de la Av. Prolongación Defensores del Morro-Chorrillos que permita aumentar la capacidad de soporte de la subrasante, optimizar los espesores en las capas granulares, y prolongar la vida útil del pavimento. Con este propósito se planteó el diseño de una estructura de pavimento convencional y otra reforzada con geocompuesto para comparar y elegir el diseño más óptimo. La recolección de datos se realizó utilizando los formatos de clasificación vehicular del MTC, inspección visual de la vía, estudio de mecánica de suelos y análisis experimental. Luego del análisis de los datos recolectados se determinó que el PCI del tramo en estudio es de 21%, esto significa que el nivel de servicio de la vía es malo y necesita intervención. Por ello se realizó el diseño de tres alternativas de pavimento flexible: la primera alternativa es una sección convencional no reforzada, mientras que las otras dos alternativas consisten en secciones reforzadas con geomalla triaxial y geomembrana HDPE. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el pavimento reforzado con geocompuesto y diseñado por el método Giroud-Han obtuvo un 47.62% de reducción en el espesor de la estructura del pavimento flexible con respecto al pavimento diseñado por el método AASHTO 93. Finalmente, luego de un análisis económico de las alternativas de diseño de pavimento flexible se concluye que el costo del pavimento reforzado con geocompuesto es 5.07% menor que el del pavimento tradicional (AASHTO 93). / The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the use of the geocomposite (Triaxial geogrid and HDPE geomembrane), as reinforcement in the subgrade-subbase interface of a flexible pavement structure. To do this, a design of a pavement structure reinforced with geocomposite is proposed in a section of Av. Prolongación Defensores del Morro-Chorrillos that allows increasing the support capacity of the subgrade, optimizing the thicknesses in the granular layers, and prolonging the life useful of the pavement. For this purpose, the design of a conventional pavement structure and another reinforced with geocomposite were proposed to compare and choose the most optimal design. Data collection was carried out using the MTC vehicle classification formats, visual inspection of the road, soil mechanics study and experimental analysis. After analyzing the data collected, it was determined that the PCI of the section under study is 21%, this means that the level of service of the road is bad and needs intervention. Therefore, the design of three flexible pavement alternatives was carried out: the first alternative is a conventional unreinforced section, while the other two alternatives consist of sections reinforced with triaxial geogrid and HDPE geomembrane. The results obtained show that the pavement reinforced with geocomposite and designed by the Giroud-Han method obtained a 47.62% reduction in the thickness of the flexible pavement structure with respect to the pavement designed by the AASHTO 93 method. Finally, after an economic analysis of the flexible pavement design alternatives, it is concluded that the cost of pavement reinforced with geocomposite is 5.07% lower than that of traditional pavement (AASHTO 93). / Tesis