Quantifying Erosion and Load Transfer Mechanisms of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Coastal Pavement Subgrades and Embankments During Inundation Events

Storm surges and flooding routinely wash out the soil beneath coastal roads and embankments, causing pavement failures and slope collapses. This collaborative project evaluates whether geosynthetic materials — including geocomposites and turf-reinforced mats — can reduce erosion and help pavements maintain structural integrity after inundation. Researchers will run flume tests on model embankment slopes and load tests on simulated eroded pavement sections, with and without geosynthetic reinforcement, to quantify improvements in erosion resistance and load-bearing capacity