MODEL TESTING OF GEOGRIDS UNDER AN AGGREGATE LAYER ON SOFT GROUND. POLYMER GRID REINFORCEMENT: PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL AND NETLON LTD AND HELD IN LONDON 22-23 MARCH 1984

The mechanisms by which the inclusion of a geogrid may improve the performance of unpaved roads and similar constructions are being studied at reduced scale by laboratory model tests. Tests so far have been conducted under plane strain conditions by applying monotonic loading from a rigid footing to reinforced and unreinforced soil-aggregate systems, using a range of fill thicknesses and subgrade strengths. Performance of the reinforced systems is significantly better, primarily because the grid effectively resists the tensile strains which develop in the base of the aggregate layer. For the covering abstract of the symposium see IRRD 284425. (Author/TRRL)