Smart Geosynthetics for Performance Monitoring and Life Cycle Assessment of Transportation Infrastructure

Sensor-Enabled Geosynthetics (SEG) products are polymer composites that include networks of conducting fillers such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene in their polymer formulation, enabling them to exhibit tensoresistive properties (i.e. strain sensing as a result of tension in the material). SEG technology provides a rapid and economical means to measure mechanical strain in geosynthetic products without the need for much costlier conventional instruments such as strain gauges and extensometers, and data acquisition systems. Therefore, it offers convenient and cost-effective performance monitoring technology for various transportation applications including roads and highways, reinforced soil walls, embankments, and bridge abutments. Previous work by the research team examined the in-isolation performance of GCG when subjected to different loading regimes. Therefore, the primary objective of the proposed project is to investigate the in-soil performance of SEG when subjected to different confining pressures, before they can be incorporated in field projects. This objective will be accomplished through a series of large-scale cyclic plate loading tests and additional ancillary tests that will be added to the similar tests that are currently carried out by the PI’s research team in two ongoing Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) projects as an expanded and unified research study. Example benefits of SEG technology include: improving the safety and performance of transportation infrastructure (i.e. roadways, retaining walls, bridge abutments, and reinforced slopes and embankments) by incorporating a monitoring and warning system, which will result in faster construction and any adjustments necessary in the construction process using real-time response data, leading to significant safety improvements, time and cost savings in the project, and the prevention of costly problems, failures and repairs during service or extreme events.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.sptc.org/cy3-ou-09

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348306 (CY3-OU-09)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Project Managers:

  Ghasemi, Hamid

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Principal Investigators:

  Hatami, Kianoosh

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20270101
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: UTC

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Geosynthetics; Life cycle analysis; Load tests; Performance tests; Polymers; Sensors; Smart materials; Strain measurement
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01975708
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348306 (CY3-OU-09)
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 6 2026 9:05AM