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Pavements 2026

Accelerated Pavement Testing & Instrumentation

When Loads Exceed Assumptions: Overloading, Calibration, and Pavement Performance

Long-Term Performance of Wicking Geotextiles for Moisture Control and Foundation Stabilization in Cold Climates

Tuesday, June 30, 2026
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM East Coast USA Time
Abstract: This presentation introduces the use of woven wicking geotextiles as a smart solution to improve pavement resilience in wet-freeze climates. The core issue addressed is the moisture-induced damage to pavement foundations, primarily driven by moisture migration and accumulation. The study demonstrates how wicking geotextiles manage and balance moisture distribution within foundation layers. Unlike traditional drainage approaches, these geotextiles create a suction gradient that enables water removal from both saturated and unsaturated soils, effectively mitigating frost heave and thaw weakening. The evaluation includes large-scale laboratory testing simulating freeze–thaw cycles, rainfall, and traffic loading, as well as full-scale field monitoring at MnROAD using sensors and performance testing. Moisture redistribution, drainage efficiency, stiffness measurements, and deformation patterns are discussed to show how the geotextile improves lateral water movement, reduces frost-related distress, and promotes foundation uniformity. Long-term monitoring over three winter seasons revealed that despite weaker as-built conditions, the wicking geotextile section provided significant mechanical reinforcement benefits and achieved structural performance comparable to the control section within two years. These findings demonstrate the dual functionality of wicking geotextiles in enhancing both drainage and mechanical stability for long-term pavement foundation improvement, offering valuable insights for design and rehabilitation strategies in cold regions where moisture management is critical.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the mechanisms of moisture migration in pavement foundations and explain how wicking geotextiles manage moisture in wet-freeze climates.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to identify key instrumentation and monitoring methods used to evaluate seasonal moisture and frost response in full-scale pavement test sections.
  • Upon completion, participants will be able to interpret long-term performance data to assess the drainage and mechanical stabilization benefits of wicking geotextiles in pavement foundations.