Glass Grid vs. Fiber Reinforcement in Asphalt Pavements: Materials, Performance, Design Integration, and Field Applications
—A Critical Review

Asphalt pavements in hot-climate regions face accelerated deterioration due to rutting, thermal cracking, reflective cracking, and traffic-induced fatigue. Reinforcement technologies—specifically synthetic fibers incorporated within asphalt mixtures and glass fiber grids installed as interlayer systems—have gained widespread interest for their ability to improve structural performance and extend pavement service life. This review synthesizes global literature, laboratory performance evaluations, mechanistic analyses, and field observations to critically compare these systems. Fibers enhance internal mixture behavior by improving tensile strength, fatigue life, and rutting resistance, while glass grids function as high-stiffness interlayer membranes that suppress reflective cracking and improve overlay durability. Design implications, constructability considerations, and suitability for harsh climatic environments are evaluated, with specific reference to conditions common in Saudi Arabia. The review concludes with guidance on reinforcement selection and identifies research needs related to material calibration, long-term monitoring, and installation quality control.