Pavement reinforcement: report on discussion

The discussion session was preceded by a contribution

from the floor by Dr Jamnejad of Sunderland Polytechnic Civil Engineering Department. The department has recently initiated a research programme to investigate the behaviour of three-dimensional grids for road base construction. The grids comprise 200mm deep vertical walls welded together intermittently. The shape of the cells is a function of the tension applied prior to filling with sand. The grid may be expanded up to 48 times the folded thickness.

Using a 1.5 cubic metre test pit, plate bearing tests have been conducted on layers of reinforced and unreinforced sand. Some plate bearing testing of block paving, with and without reinforcement of the sand road base has also been carried out. Pressure pads were installed beneath the sand road base to measure subgrade stress.