Performance of Bases Reinforced with Geocells and RAP under Cyclic Loading in a Physical Prototype

Abstract

Roads with low traffic volume frequently experience premature distress due to construction over subgrades with low bearing capacity. In this context, geocell reinforcement combined with recycled materials such as Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has emerged as a sustainable alternative to improve pavement performance. In order to investigate the performance of this solution, this study investigates the mechanical behavior of RAP bases reinforced with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geocell through a large-scale physical prototype subjected to cyclic traffic loading. An elastic foam layer was adopted as a substitute for weak subgrade soils, aiming to reproduce deformable support conditions with improved experimental control and reduced costs. Cyclic loading was applied using a traffic accelerator, and the structural response was evaluated based on measured vertical displacements. A numerical model developed in PLAXIS 2D was calibrated against experimental data to indirectly estimate the elastic properties of the foam and to analyze stress distribution mechanisms within the pavement system. The results indicate that geocell reinforcement contributes to reduced vertical deformations and improved load distribution within the RAP base. The mechanical response of the elastic foam was consistent with that of low-bearing-capacity subgrades, indicating its potential use as an alternative subgrade material in physical modeling of geocell-reinforced pavement bases. The combined experimental and numerical approach provides a technically consistent framework for evaluating reinforced pavement systems under cyclic loading.