Influence of geotextiles on performance of saline sebkha soils

Along the western shores of the Arabian Gulf, saline soils, known as sebkhas, are widely distributed. These soils are associated with many geotechnical problems that emerge principally because of their high salt content and their susceptibility to strength loss and collapse upon saturation. This research program was carried out to assess the performance of sebkha subgrade in the laboratory using conventional and soil-fabric-aggregate (SFA) systems under static and dynamic loading conditions. Variables investigated included subbase thickness, level of stress, type of geotextile, and saturation effect. Results indicate that the use of geotextiles significantly enhances the inferior properties of sebkha subgrade, particularly when the SFA system is saturated. The contribution of geotextiles to the performance of SFA systems diminishes when the subbase thickness increases. Results of the index laboratory tests on the small-scale model have been used by local municipalities for road constructed on sebkha subgrade in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.