01333344

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2210-11

http://scholar.google.com...arte&publication_year=2011

Near-surface cracking, sometimes referred to as top-down cracking, is one of the predominant distress types in flexible pavements. The incidence of near-surface cracking has increased in recent years with the increased construction of relatively thick (hot-mix asphalt layer > 200 mm) flexible pavements. However, understanding the mechanisms of near-surface cracking and its integration into pavement design protocols remains a challenge. Analysis of this problem can be complex because of multiaxial stress states in the vicinity of tires. The near-surface response to nonuniform tire contact stresses is investigated, and the potential for crack occurrence near the surface is analyzed in a typical relatively thick flexible pavement. The generalized finite element method (GFEM) is used to analyze pavement structure. This method provides a computational framework for the arbitrary orientation of cracks in a finite element mesh that is particularly useful for mixed-mode fracture problems. A three-dimensional (3-D) model for a typical pavement structure with a thick bituminous layer is created, and 3-D and nonuniform tire–pavement contact stresses are applied to the pavement surface. Aggregate-scale cracks are inserted at various locations and orientations in the pavement. Results of this numerical study indicate that complex stress states in the presence of strong mode mixity may cause shear or tensile fracture in flexible pavements. The importance of novel computational methods such as the GFEM to the discovery and understanding of mechanisms governing the premature failure of pavements is highlighted.

01356813

11-2621

English

pp 97-105

2011

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309167468

Print

Figures (7) ; References (23) ; Tables (1)

Finite element method; Flexible pavements; Hot mix asphalt; Pavement cracking; Pavement distress; Rolling contact; Stresses; Thickness

Surface cracking; Three dimensional models; Top down cracking (Pavements)

Highways; Materials; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 17 2011 6:13PM

• Determination of Crack Size Distribution in Asphalt Mixtures
• Determination of Flow Number in Asphalt Mixtures from Deformation Rate During Secondary State
• Effect of Thermal Stresses on Fatigue Behavior in Bituminous Mixes
• Effects of Asphalt Mixture Properties on Permanent Deformation Response
• Evaluation of Dynamic Modulus Predictive Equations for Southeastern United States Asphalt Mixtures
• Evaluation of Fracture Toughness of Semirigid Asphalt Concretes at Low Temperatures
• Evaluation of Predictive Models for Estimating Dynamic Modulus of Hot-Mix Asphalt in Oklahoma
• Factors That Affect Cracking Performance in Hot-Mix Asphalt Mix Design
• Laboratory Evaluation of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures Containing Polyphosphoric Acid
• Permanent Deformation Model Based on Shear Properties of Asphalt Mixtures: Development and Calibration
• Reduced Testing Protocol for Measuring the Confined Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Mixtures
• Search for a Laboratory Test to Evaluate Crack Resistance of Hot-Mix Asphalt
• Significance of Confined Dynamic Modulus Laboratory Testing for Asphalt Concrete: Conventional, Gap-Graded, and Open-Graded Mixtures