SYNOPSIS

Project Title: Comparison Of Drainage Characteristics Of GSB Layer Using Different Geotextile As A Filter Media
It is well known fact that excess water due to Seepage and drainage problems in pavement system is one of the principal causes of premature pavement failure. Water in the pavement system can lead to moisture damage and loss of strength. Seepage and drainage problems that can occur in highway pavement have numerous ways to take place. These drainage problems are mainly of two types such as surface drainage and subsurface drainage. The sub surface drainage problems encountered on each section of highways may be different and will require specific consideration and treatment. Subsurface drainage problem has several adverse effects especially on pavement performance as manifested in premature rutting, cracking. Most of the highways built in our country in the past 30 years or so, have very slow drainage systems, largely because standard design practices emphasizes on density and stability but has importance on subsurface. The poor subsurface drainage on these roads to large amount of costly repairs or replacements long before reaching design life. Not much importance has been given to this aspect in India. The current practices of pavement construction in India consider the Granular Sub-Base (GSB) as a drainage layer. However, the gradation and properties of layer materials seldom permit the layer to be an effective drainage layer, leading to entrapment of water within the pavement causing a bathtub condition, resulting in premature failures and pavement distresses. Thus study on the permeability of GSB gradation is required. Granular Sub-base is an intermediate layer between subgrade and base course. This layer functions as a stress-transmitting medium to spread the surface wheel loads and as a drainage layer for the pavement to avoid excess wetting and weakening of subgrade. The coefficient of permeability of sand gravel courses, graded between limits usually specified for base and sub base materials, depends principally upon the percentage by weight of sizes passing the 0.075mesh.

The granular material to be used for work shall be natural sand, crushed gravel, crushed stone, or combination. The material shall be free from organic or other deleterious constituents and shall conform to quality standard as prescribed in the specification.

Objective of Present Study:

The main objective of present study is to compare drainage characteristics of GSB layer with the use of different Geotextile which is categorised by their GSM (grams per m2), as a filter media, which is provided at the veep holes under pavement structure. Geotextile or geo fabric is placed between the sub base course specimen and the porous plate for preventing the fines from clogging the porous plates. Drainage characteristics are to be determined interms of Permeability characteristics of GSB mix by preparing specimens fulfilling the required gradation of Granular Sub-base layer specified by different agencies such as MORT&H(5th revision), ASHTO-57, NEW JERSAY and IOWA as per Job mix formula. A semi mould pavement of area 1.5mx1.5m is chosen in the field to simulate the field condition and permeability values are calculated and compared for chosen Geotextile filter media with required GSM such as for 300GSM Geotextile and 200GSM Geotextile. For a particular grade and thickness of GSB mix, specimen is saturated for 24 hrs, before carrying out the permeability test, and then the discharge time required to fill 1000 ml of water is recorded and coefficient of permeability k values are calculated.

Methodology: The field investigation on drainage characteristics of GSB material and

comparing with different Geotextile have been carried out with the following objectives. 1. To determine the basic properties of aggregates used for testing

2. To determine the OMC and MDD for the different GSB gradation for the calculation of
weight of the GSB material require for the large Horizontal Permeability mould.

3. To determine No of blows required for compaction of GSB layer for large Horizontal
Permeability mould to achieve the required MDD.

4. To study the Permeability characteristics of different grades of granular sub base layer as
specified by MORT&H as per 5th revision, using crushed aggregates (non plastic) with Rothfutchs method of gradation.

5. To determine the drainage characteristics of different grades of GSB mix interms of

permeability criteria.

6. Comparing drainage characteristics of GSB layers using different Geotextile as a filter

media.