Effects of truck traffic on top-down fatigue cracking performance of flexible pavements using a new mechanics-based analysis framework

• The mechanics-based analysis framework predicts top-down fatigue cracking initiation timein asphalt concrete pavements by utilising fracture mechanics and mixture morphology-basedproperty. To reduce the level of complexity involved, traffic data were characterised and incorporatedinto the framework using the equivalent single axle load (ESAL) approach. There isa concern that this kind of simplistic traffic characterisation might result in erroneous performancepredictions and pavement structural designs. This paper integrates axle load spectraand other traffic characterisation parameters into the mechanics-based analysis framework andstudies the impact these traffic characterisation parameters have on predicted fatigue crackingperformance. The traffic characterisation inputs studied are traffic growth rate, axle load spectra,lateral wheel wander and volume adjustment factors. For this purpose, a traffic integrationapproach which incorporates Monte Carlo simulation and representative traffic characterisationinputs was developed. The significance of these traffic characterisation parameters wasestablished by evaluating a number of field pavement sections. It is evident from the resultsthat all the traffic characterisation parameters except truck wheel wander have been observedto have significant influence on predicted top-down fatigue cracking performance.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Infrastrukturteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Infrastructure Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

asphalt pavement

axle load spectra

ESAL

fatigue

mechanics-based

Monte Carlo

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)