Introduction

 


Geosynthetics: Use in Streets and Highways

Produced by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board, December 1998
Updated September 2000

In the past two decades, the development of geosynthetics has created a flood of information ranging from promotional materials about specific products to engineering properties for geosynthetics and specific engineering design applications. A number of the Local Road Research Board’s past research implementation efforts have been directed at the selection and use of geosynthetics. However, the scope of geosynthetics’ use is broad enough that the previous efforts were not able to fully cover the topic.

The field is so immense, in fact, that this CD-ROM will not cover all of the applications for geosynthetics. Rather, it will concentrate specifically on geosynthetics’ use in streets and highways in three areas: separation, reinforcement, and drainage applications below the pavement. The menus at the top of each page will direct you to those three areas.

The bulk of the reference material on this CD-ROM comes from three documents:

  • FHWA Geosynthetic Design and Construction Guidelines
  • Mn/DOT Geotechnical and Pavement Manual
  • MN/DOT Standard Specifications for Construction Manual and MN/DOT Special Provisions

Getting Started

First time viewers of this presentation should visit the Help Page by using the button at the bottom of the screen. When you are ready to begin with the presentation, simply click on a button at the top of your screen. These buttons will lead to a series of screens filled with important summary information.

This CD-ROM is intended to make the daunting job of designing an appropriate geosynthetic application easier by directing you to specific areas within the documents listed above. The buttons at the bottom left-hand side of the screen (labeled FHWA Guidelines, Geotech Manual, and Specs. & Sp. Prov) will provide you with quick links to these documents. When a button highlights, (turns a warm yellow glow) further information is available. Click the button to open a subwindow with more information. Close the subwindow when you are finished to return to the summary screens and make another selection from the top row of buttons to move on. Please note that these reference materials are a guideline only; always defer to your specific contract document.

With this CD-ROM, you will also be able to print the screens and sections of interest from the reference material to use as attachments to other documents that you are developing. See the Help Section for information on printing materials from this presentation. Some pages contain fairly complex formulas which are difficult to read on the computer screen. See the Help Section for detailed instructions on how to print these pages.

This CD-ROM was designed under the direction of the RIC Technical Subcommittee members:

  • Ron Bray, Vice President, WSB and Associates
  • Mark Daly, Anoka County Construction Engineer
  • Mike Robinson, MN/DOT Metro Division (West) Materials Engineer
  • Lou Tasa, MN/DOT District 2, District State Aid Engineer
  • Tom Kozojed, Beltrami County Engineer
  • Micky Ruiz, MN/DOT Office of Research Services
  • Joel Ulring, St. Louis County Geotechnical Engineer
  • Joe Labuz, Associate Professor, U of M
  • Delton Schulz, Pennington County Hwy Dept
  • Roger Olson, MN/DOT Office of Materials and Road Research
  • Jerry Mortenson, Hennepin County, Dept. of Public Works
  • Duane Young, MN/DOT Office of Materials and Road Research
  • Milton Alm, Norman County Engineer
  • Blake Nelson, MN/DOT Office of Materials and Road Research
  • Larry Berkland, Steele County Highway Dept., Assistant County Engineer
  • Chunhua Han, Braun Intertec Corporation

Minnesota Local Road Research Board

The board was formed by the Minnesota Legislature to fund and oversee road research for the cities and counties that comprise part of the State Aid system of streets and highways. The board is composed of engineer representatives from Minnesota counties and cities, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the University of Minnesota. The board’s budget is based on a percentage of state gas taxes that are used for State Aid construction projects.

The board selects projects to fund, then reviews the results of those activities. One of the projects funded by the board regards research implementation. Since its inception, the research implementation project has been known as Investigation 645. Currently, a standing committee called the Research Implementation Committee, made up of board members and other representatives from the transportation sector, oversees the work conducted for the implementation of research.

The committee is responsible for research implementation activities and works at the board’s direction. This work includes a variety of separate projects intended to relay research results to the local government. The fruits of this labor may take on several forms including Research Implementation Series publications, synthesis reports, videos, workshops, and now interactive media such as this CD-ROM.

Disclaimer

The Local Road Research Board makes no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the reuse of the data provided here with, regardless of its format or the means of its transmission. There is no guarantee or representation to the user as to the accuracy, currency, suitability or reliability of this data for any purpose. The user accepts the data "as is" and assumes all risks associated with its use. By acceptance of this data, the user agrees not to transmit this data or provide access to it or any part of it to another party unless the user shall include with the data a copy of this disclaimer. The Local Road Research Board assumes no responsibility for actual or consequential damage incurred as a result of any user’s reliance on this data.