Mechanisms Governing the Performance of Unpaved Roads Incorporating Geosynthetics

This article is the first part of a two part series that describes the mechanisms that govern the performance of unpaved roads using geosynthetics. These mechanisms are complex because the road structure is heterogeneous and the road structure is progressively modified by traffic load repetition. The article discusses how the road structure becomes more heterogeneous and complex when a geosynthetic is added because the wheel load is vertical and the geosythetic is horizontal. The article shows how it is appropriate to designate unpaved that use geosynthetics as mechanically stabilized unpaved roads because the base and subgrade are mechanically stabilized.