###### Abstract  
In this study, the performance of unpaved road sections over soft clay soil geosynthetic-reinforced and stabilized with rock fill layer was evaluated using repeated plate loading tests. A total of 10 field tests were carried out using a circular model rigid plate with a diameter of 0.30 m. The parameters investigated included the location and type of geosynthetics and loading conditions (number of loading cycle and traffic loading condition). Based on the test results, the least deformation was observed in the rockfill section. The geocell placed at a depth of one-third thickness of the granular fill layer from the top showed improved performance and was more effective as compared with other geosynthetic reinforcements. However, for granular fill geosynthetic-reinforced or stabilized with rock fill layer, the results demonstrate an improvement in the rutting performance of the pavement and the definite trend of increasing reloading elastic modulus, depending on the traffic loading situation. It has been also observed that the use of geocell or geogrid reinforcement in granular fill layer or more rigid rockfill layer provides an important increase in the modulus improvement ratio (MIR) by at least 36%, 45% and 60% compared to the granular fill section, respectively.  
field tests; soft clay soil; granular fill layer; rockfill layer; geosynthetics; repeated plate loading tests +
Footnote †: journal: Applied  
0000-0001-6555-2277-3300]E. A. D.  
rutting development [18; 19]. The enhancement of road performance through the incorporation of geosynthetics in base layers depends on various factors, such as the subgrade's strength, the characteristics of the geosynthetic material, the positioning of geosynthetics within road structures, and the thickness of the base layer [20; 21; 22].  
One of the primary considerations in road design is minimizing rutting failure and subgrade bearing capacity failure when subjected to traffic loads. Therefore, two approaches have typically been employed in the literature, including in laboratory or field tests, to evaluate the performance of unpaved and paved roadways: bearing capacity-based design methodology with static loading tests [23] and permanent deformation-based design methodology with cyclic loading tests [20]. Most studies in the literature use static loading experiments in laboratories, which only partially simulate traffic loads. Although studies in a controlled laboratory environment can be carried out more rapidly and typically incorporate more options, they can only simulate field situations to a limited extent ([PERSON] et al. [14]). Hence, there remains a requirement for conducting field tests that ensure consistent conditions and integrate diverse geosynthetics to establish an adequate repository of performance outcomes. A comprehensive information database is necessary, given the ongoing requirement for a universally recognized and standardized design approach for paved or unpaved roads (or construction platforms), that integrates soil and geosynthetic material characteristics. On the other hand, a lack of understanding of the mechanisms of geosynthetic reinforcement or rockfill stabilization, especially regarding geosynthetics as an alternative to rockfill stabilization, has limited the effectiveness of the attempts to change the engineering design practice. These limitations motivate continual research on geosynthetic-reinforced pavements to better understand the geosynthetic-reinforcement benefits for future pavement design involving mechanistic empirical pavement design methods.