National Concrete Pavement Technology Center

Project description

Pumping is one of the major factors contributing to pavement failures, which reduces the pavement life, affects road safety, and increases maintenance costs. Existing methods that are used as drainage systems can drain gravitational (free) water under saturated conditions but not the capillary water under an unsaturated condition. The objective of this study is to explore and identify the feasibility of using a new wicking geotextile for pumping mitigation in pavement shoulder via laboratory tests and field test section monitoring. Results obtained from monitoring the field test section for more than three years verified the effectiveness of using wicking geotextile to reduce water content, especially where the pavement is prone to pumping damage. As a result, the generation of positive pore water pressure is delayed if not completely prevented. In this way, one of the requirements of pavement pumping is eliminated.