The impact of mining deformations on road pavements reinforced with geosynthetics

In this article, the issue of mining impact on road pavements and subgrade is presented, taking into account the interaction between geosynthetic reinforcement and unbound aggregate layers. Underground mining extraction causes continuous and discontinuous deformations of the pavement subgrade. Structural deformations in the form of ruts are associated with the compaction of granular layers under cyclic loading induced by heavy vehicles. Horizontal tensile strains cause the loosening of the subgrade and base layers. The granular layers under cyclic loading are additionally compacted and the depth of ruts increases. Moreover, tensile strains can cause discontinuous deformations that affect the pavement in the form of cracks and crevices. Discontinuous deformations also affect the pavement in the fault zones during the impact of mining extraction. The use of geosynthetic reinforcement enables the mitigation of the adverse effects of horizontal tensile strains. Horizontal compressive strains can cause surface wrinkling and bumps. Subsidence causes significant changes in the longitudinal and transverse inclination of road surface. Both examples of the laboratory test results of the impact of subgrade horizontal strains on reinforced aggregate layers and the selected example of the impact of mining deformation on road subgrade are presented in this article. The examples show the beneficial impact of the use of geosynthetic reinforcement to stabilize unbound aggregate layers in mining areas.