Salman, N., Joni, H. (2025). Tire contact pressure effects on stress responses of scaled models of geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrade. , 43(11), 991-1001. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.164322.2009
Nawal D. Salman; Hasan H. Joni. "Tire contact pressure effects on stress responses of scaled models of geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrade". , 43, 11, 2025, 991-1001. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.164322.2009
Salman, N., Joni, H. (2025). 'Tire contact pressure effects on stress responses of scaled models of geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrade', , 43(11), pp. 991-1001. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.164322.2009
Salman, N., Joni, H. Tire contact pressure effects on stress responses of scaled models of geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrade. , 2025; 43(11): 991-1001. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.164322.2009

Tire contact pressure effects on stress responses of scaled models of geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrade

Engineering and Technology Journal
Volume 43, Issue 11, November 2025, Pages 991-1001    PDF (745.92 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.30684/etj.2025.164322.2009
Authors
Nawal D. Salman* ; Hasan H. Joni
Department of Highways and Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, University of Technology-Iraq, Alsina’a street, 10066 Baghdad, Iraq.
Abstract
Flexible pavements constructed over weak subgrades are subjected to premature failure due to excessive stress and deformation. Actual Tire contact pressure significantly affects the performance of flexible pavement. Geosynthetic reinforcement is used to overcome these issues. In this study, physical models with a (1/3) scale were used to investigate the effect of tire contact pressure on geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrades. Three pavement sections were studied: Control (unreinforced), Base-Surface reinforced with a non-woven geotextile, reinforced at the middle depth of the asphalt layer. Repeated axle loads were applied at three contact tire pressures of 480, 560, and 690 kPa, with vertical stresses measured at the bottom of the asphalt layer and at the top of the subgrade. Increasing tire pressure from 480 to 690 kPa raised vertical stresses at the asphalt bottom from 70.9% for the control section to 71.4 and 74.4% for sections 2 and 3, respectively. At the top of the subgrade, the same increase resulted in vertical stress rises from 58.9% for the control section to 73.7% and 83.6% for sections 2 and 3, respectively. Geotextile reinforcement effectively reduced subgrade stress at lower pressures, with middle depth reinforcement showing slightly better performance than surface–base interface reinforcement. However, the reinforcement benefits diminished under high contact tire pressures. The results revealed that tire pressure constitutes a fundamental factor that affects pavement performance, especially when built over weak subgrades, while optimized geotextile placement further contributes to performance gains.

Highlights
  • The effect of tire contact pressure on geotextile-reinforced flexible pavements over weak subgrades were investigate.
  • Increasing tire pressure raised the vertical stresses at the bottom at the asphalt layer and at the top of the subgrade.
  • The use of geotextile reinforcement reduced stress transmission through the pavement layers.
  • Reinforcement placed at mid-depth within the asphalt layer provided slightly better stress reduction.
  • Overinflation can largely negate its structural benefits.
Keywords
Tire Contact Pressure; Flexible Pavement; Geotextile; Pavement Reinforcement; Pavement Stress
References
  1. S. Tasnim, F. U. A. Shaikh, P. Sarker, S. I. Doh, J. A. A. Albtoosh, A comprehensive review of flexible pavement failures, improvement methods, and their disadvantages, Key Eng. Mater., 879 (2021) 136–148. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.879.136
  2. A. F. Jasim, M. Y. Fattah, I. F. Al‑Saadi, A. S. Abbas, Geogrid reinforcement optimal location under different tire contact stress assumptions, Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol., 14 (2021) 357–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-020-0145-6
  3. I. L. Al-Qadi, P. J. Yoo, M. A. Elseifi, I. Janajreh, G. Chehab, A. Collop‏ ‏ ‏, Effects of tire configurations on pavement damage, J. Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol., 74 (2005) 921–961. https://trid.trb.org/View/777867
  4. G. Jayalath, C. Prasad, C. Gallage, M. Dhanasekar, B. Dareeju, J. Ramanujam, J. Lee, Pavement model tests to investigate the effects of geogrid as subgrade reinforcement, in: 12th Aust. & N. Z. Young Geotechnical Professionals Conf., Australian Geomechanics Soc., 2018, 1–8.
  5. Nazzal, M. D. Laboratory characterization and numerical modeling of geogrid reinforced bases in flexible pavements. Ph.D. Thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 2007. https://doi.org/10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.3889
  6. M. Abu‑Farsakh, M. Nazzal, Evaluation of the base/subgrade soil under repeated loading: Phase I – laboratory testing and numerical modeling of geogrid reinforced bases in flexible pavement, Report No. FHWA/LA.09/450, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, 2009.
  7. S. F. Ibrahim, N. G. Ahmed, D. E. Mohammed, Effect of reinforcement on improved surface pavement for weak subgrade conditions, Int. J. Geomate., 11 (2016) 2188–2193.
  8. J. G. Zornberg, Advances in the use of geosynthetics in pavement projects, in: Proc. 2nd Iberic Conf. on Geosynthetics, Geosintec Iberia, 2015.
  9. E. V. Cuelho, S. W. Perkins, Geosynthetic subgrade stabilization – field testing and design method calibration, Transp. Geotech., 10 (2017) 22–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2016.10.002
  10. H. Alimohammadi, V. R. Schaefer, J. Zheng, H. Li, Performance evaluation of geosynthetic reinforced flexible pavement: a review of full‑scale field studies, Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol., 14 (2021) 30–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-020-0019-y
  11. C. Jayalath, C. Gallage, K. Wimalasena, J. Lee, J. Ramanujam, Performance of composite geogrid reinforced unpaved pavements under cyclic loading, Constr. Build. Mater., 304 (2021) 124570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124570
  12. I.  L. Al‑Qadi, H. Wang, Prediction of tire‑pavement contact stresses and analysis of asphalt pavement responses: A decoupled approach, Asphalt Paving Technol. – Proc. Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol., 80 (2011) 289.
  13. F. L. Roberts, J. Tielking, D. Middleton, R. L. Lytton, K. Tseng, Effects of tire pressures on flexible pavements. Final report, Report No. FHWA/TX-86/372-1F, 1985.
  14. K. M. Marshek, H. H. Chen, R. B. Connell, C. L. Saraf, Effect of truck tire inflation pressure and axle load on flexible and rigid pavement performance, Transp. Res. Rec., 1070 (1986) 14–21.
  15. Bonaquist, R. , Churilla, C. , Freund, D. Effect of load, tire pressure, and tire type on flexible pavement response; Public Roads, 1988.
  16. P. Sebaaly, N. Tabatabaee, Effect of tire pressure and type on response of flexible pavement, Transp. Res. Rec., 1227 (1989) 115-127.
  17. Jing, R. A. Varveri, X. Liu, A. Scarpas, S. Erkens. 2020. Study on the asphalt pavement response in the accelerated pavement testing facility, in: Proc. 9th Int. Conf. on Maintenance & Rehabilitation of Pavements (Mairepav9), Springer, Cham, Vol. 76, pp. 871–880. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48679-2_81
  18. N. Garg, G. F. Hayhoe, Asphalt concrete strain responses at high loads and low speeds at the national airport pavement test facility (NAPTF), in: Advancing Airfield Pavements, 2001, pp. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1061/40579(271)1
  19. Huang, Y. H. Pavement analysis and design, Vol. 2, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2004.
  20. C. Chatrabhuj, K. Meshram, Use of geosynthetic materials as soil reinforcement: an alternative eco‑friendly construction material, Discov. Civ. Eng., 1 (2024) 41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-024-00050-6
Statistics
Article View: 32
PDF Download: 28


Journal Management System. Powered by iJournalPro.com