New Drainage Systems for Cement Concrete Road Structures

During a research programme on geocomposite draining materials, the Belgian Road Research Centre constructed and monitored comparative drainage test sections for a concrete block-paved road. The geocomposite drain was easier and quicker to install than the conventional granular drain. Three years of continuous monitoring of weather data, drainage outflows and water table levels clearly indicated o higher technical performance of the genomposite drain. Cost analysis confirmed lower total costs for geocomposite drains as compared to granular drains with equivalent drainage capacity. Simplified installation procedures and the possibility of complete mechanical installation are further advantages of geocomposite drains.