Contingency Airfield and Road Construction Using Geosynthetic Fiber Stabilization of Sands.

This report describes laboratory and field tests conducted using a new fiber stabilization technique for sands. Laboratory unconfined compression tests using 2-in. long monofilament polypropylene fibers to stabilize a poorly graded SP sand showed an optimum fiber content of 1 percent by weight. Field test sections were constructed and traffic tested using simulated C-130 aircraft traffic 30,000-lb tire load at 100-psi tire pressure and military truck traffic 5-ton military cargo truck loaded to a gross weight of 41,600 lb. Test results showed that sand fiber stabilization over a sand subgrade supported over 1,000 passes of a C-130 tire load with less than 2 in. of rutting. The top 4 in. of the sand fiber layer was lightly stabilized with Road Oyl to provide a wearing surface. Based on limited truck traffic tests, an 8-in.-thick sand-fiber layer, surfaced with a spray application of Road Oyl, would support substantial amounts of military truck traffic.