Reduction of deflections at the pavement base through the combined use of Non-Woven Geotextiles and Macadam Base

Permanent deformations in roads are the main causes of damage to flexible pavements, especially those that have been built on saturated soft soils. The use of Non-Woven Geotextiles (NWG) in a macadam base placed so that it surrounds the entire perimeter of the macadam base, is a technique that represents a solution for the management of pavement damage, since, vertically, it reduces the deflections; while horizontally, it avoids the migration of fine particles to reduce the pumping effect. To verify this hypothesis, investigations were carried out in order to determine the materials to be used, to optimize the design of the pavement and the final thicknesses of the layers; and simulated base tests to find the deflections in a section reinforced with NWG and an unreinforced section. Measurement of deflections was achieved by the Light Deflectometry (LWD) test. Finally, it was possible to find a percentage difference of deflections of the base of the flexible pavements of 25.25% between both cases tested, the most favorable case being that of the sample reinforced with NWG.