Mechanistic-Experimental Approach for Determination of Basic Properties of Mechanically Stabilized Layers

Abstract

Mechanically stabilized layers have rather good potential for the application in construction of transport structures in cold regions. But determination of mechanical properties, which could be used in practice, remains still quite problem both theoretically and practically. The paper describes a new approach how to solve that problem. Presented method, it is a combination of laboratory experiment and inversion FEM modelling. The approach is called mechanistic-experimental. The experiment should be in scale 1:1 and should provide data of at least two independent parameters so that FEM model could be calibrated by iterative inverse modelling accordingly. Then mechanical properties like deformation modulus, Poisson ratio and minimum initial shear resistance of mechanically stabilized layer (composite like) could be determined. The real laboratory and FEM model are described and discussed. The paper is a continuation of earlier published papers (Rakowski in Procedia Eng 189:166–173, [1]; Horníček and Rakowski in Mechanically stabilized granular layers an effective solution for tunnel project. Springer Nature America Inc., New York, [2]; Rakowski et al. in The applicability of recent mechanically stabilized granular layer concept in ME pavement design. Springer Nature America Inc., New York, [3]).