Experimental and Numerical Assessment of the Behavior of Geogrid-Reinforced Concrete and Its Application in Concrete Overlays

Abstract

Limited research exists on the benefits of using geogrids to reinforce portland cement concrete structural and nonstructural members. Concrete pavement overlay is one application in which the use of geogrids can potentially enhance performance and in which the use of reinforcing steel bars is subject to various constraints and limitations. Preliminary research findings have shown that the inclusion of geogrids in portland cement concrete leads to a definitive improvement in postcracking behavior in terms of ductility, load capacity, and crack propagation control. Through a rigorous experimental program, this study aimed to verify and further enhance the current knowledge regarding the behavior of geogrid-reinforced concrete (GRC) elements compared to that of plain concrete and steel-reinforced elements. The findings were used in characterizing the behavior of GRC and applying it to a finite-element model developed using ADINA software. The model was then used to predict the behavior of a geogrid-reinforced concrete overlay and compare it to that of a conventional plain concrete overlay over a given flexible pavement structure.