Matting Solutions for Low-Volume Roads

An evaluation of 11 commercial roadway matting systems was conducted to determine their effectiveness in carrying heavy vehicle traffic over loose-sand subgrades. Three of the 11 matting systems were also evaluated under the same loading conditions over soft, fine-grained subgrades. Matting product types included high-density polyethylene, aluminum, fiberglass, and polyester. System installation methods included continuous rolls of material, segmented rolls, and connection of individual panels. The matting products were assembled in test sections of various sizes, which depended on individual panel dimensions and product availability. The mats were trafficked with a 7-ton, six-wheeled U.S. Marine Corps transport truck loaded with a 7-ton payload until 20% of the mat section was no longer reusable or 2,000 truck passes were achieved. Earth pressure cells were installed under nine of the sand test sections to monitor load distributions provided by the matting systems. On the basis of the test results, recommendations are given for selecting the best roadway matting system types for use on low-volume roads with sand or soft, fine-grained subgrades.