Use of Natural Geotextiles to Retard Reflection Cracking in Highway Pavements

Abstract

Reflective cracking is a major phenomenon leading to premature failure of fresh asphalt overlays. Application of a geosynthetic interlayer system to retard reflective crack propagation is a well-known technique. However, this method often fails because of debonding or inadequate interaction between the asphalt and the geosynthetic. Major variables that control the overall performance of paving fabric are the mechanical properties and the asphalt retention capacity. Some of the natural geotextiles (jute and coir) have good mechanical properties comparable with those of synthetic paving fabrics and hence can be advantageously considered in overlay applications. In the present study, various mechanical properties of both natural and synthetic textiles are evaluated and compared with the specifications given by various standard organizations. The results showed that the properties of jute woven geotextiles and coir open grids meet the minimum specifications for them to be used as paving fabrics as per the relevant guidelines. On the other hand, the properties of nonwoven jute and coir geotextiles did not meet the minimum requirements. This paper discusses the different materials and the laboratory techniques employed to evaluate their suitability for pavement applications.