Análise do comportamento mecânico de solo reforçado com geogrelhas fabricadas por impressão 3D para potencial aplicação em pavimentos

Abstract

A significant portion of the surface layer in the city of Manaus-AM consists of finegrained soils, such as clays and silts, which impose serious limitations on the performance of local pavement structural layers. Due to the low mechanical strength and high plasticity of these materials, it becomes necessary to adopt viable reinforcement solutions, particularly in contexts where granular materials are scarce. In this context, this study evaluated the mechanical behavior of a cohesive soil reinforced with triaxial geogrids manufactured by additive manufacturing, using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) copolymer. The geogrids were designed with triangular geometries and two edge lengths (20 mm and 10 mm), produced through the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process. The soil was characterized by specific gravity tests, particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, and compaction tests. The mechanical performance of the soil–geogrid composites was assessed through Direct Shear, Diametral Compression, Unconfined Compression, and Resilient Modulus tests, along with the application of the Composite and Universal Models for MR estimation. The results showed significant improvements in the strength parameters for the reinforced groups, particularly for the geogrid with the larger aperture size (20 mm), which demonstrated greater efficiency in interlocking and stress redistribution. It is concluded that the use of 3D-printed geogrids represents a promising technical solution for the reinforcement of cohesive soils, contributing to the development of more sustainable and locally adapted geotechnical solutions for the Amazon region.