Field and Numerical Investigation on Time-Dependent Behavior of Jute Geotextile (JGT) Reinforced Rural Road

Abstract

A rural road section reinforced with Jute Geotextiles (JGT) sandwiched between thin sand layers has been constructed to study the strength improvement of subgrade soil. In this present investigation, an attempt also has been made to develop a three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the JGT reinforced and unreinforced rural road sections using general purpose FE software ABAQUS. Numerical simulation of time-dependent behavior for JGT reinforced rural road has been carried out using the data obtained from field investigation at regular time interval. In this present investigation, subgrade soil has been modeled using Mohr–Coulomb plasticity model, whereas JGT has been assumed as membrane type of material. From FE analysis, pavement responses under traffic loading such as rut depth, maximum tensile strain developed at JGT, and vertical compressive strain developed at the top of subgrade soil has been evaluated. From the field investigation, it has been found that the subgrade California bearing ratio (CBR) value is increased with increase in time under study. It has been found that the reinforced rural road sections are performing well in terms of rut depth than the unreinforced section.