Assessment of Reflective Cracking Models for Asphalt Pavements

The major role of interlayer mixtures is to mitigate reflective cracking by absorbing or dissipating concentrated stress, and relatively low-stiffness materials are typically used. However, there is a concern that interlayer mixtures may increase rutting potential due to the low-stiffness materials used. The dominant aggregate size range (DASR) porosity has been successfully applied for structural mixtures to ensure enhanced rutting performance. This study mainly focused on developing the new DASR porosity requirement for interlayer mixtures that ensure acceptable rutting performance in the mix design phase. Ten interlayer mixtures with a broad range of DASR porosities were evaluated using the asphalt pavement analyzer test. Results indicated that the gradation characteristics of interlayer mixtures played an important role in rutting performance. Also, a relationship between DASR porosity and the rutting potential of interlayer mixtures was identified that resulted in the establishment of the preliminary DASR porosity requirements.

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Influence of Geocomposite Properties on the Crack Propagation and Interlayer Bonding of Asphalt Pavements

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14185310 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (18) ◽

pp. 5310 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sara Spadoni ◽

Lorenzo Paolo Ingrassia ◽

Giulio Paoloni ◽

Amedeo Virgili ◽

Francesco Canestrari

Keyword(s):

Crack Propagation ◽

Laboratory Investigation ◽

Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽

Field Performance ◽

High Energy ◽

Field Investigation ◽

Asphalt Pavements ◽

Reflective Cracking ◽

Bonding Effect ◽

Interlayer Bonding

The application of geocomposites as reinforcement in asphalt pavements is a promising solution for the maintenance/rehabilitation of existing pavements and for the construction of new pavements, whose effectiveness strongly depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the geocomposite. This study aims at assessing the influence of four different geocomposites, obtained by combining a reinforcing geosynthetic with a bituminous membrane, on the crack propagation and interlayer bonding of asphalt pavements. First, a laboratory investigation was carried out on double-layered asphalt specimens. The crack propagation resistance under static and dynamic loads was investigated through three-point bending tests (carried out on specimens with and without notch) and reflective cracking tests respectively, whereas the interlayer shear strength was evaluated through Leutner tests. Then, a trial section was constructed along an Italian motorway and a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing campaign was carried out. The laboratory investigation highlighted that—as compared to the unreinforced system—the geocomposites increased the crack propagation energy in the layer above the reinforcement from five to ten times, indicating that they can significantly extend the service life of the pavement by delaying bottom-up and reflective cracking. However, they also worsened the interlayer bonding between the asphalt layers (de-bonding effect). The field investigation indicated that all geocomposites decreased the stiffness of the asphalt layers with respect to the unreinforced pavement as a consequence of the de-bonding effect, thus corroborating the laboratory results. Based on the results obtained, it is desirable that the geocomposite possess a high energy dissipation capability and an upper coating ensuring good adhesion between the asphalt layers. The monitoring of the existing trial section in the future will provide useful data on the long-term field performance of reinforced pavements subjected to actual motorway traffic.

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Geocomposites against reflective cracking in asphalt pavements: laboratory simulation of a field application

Road Materials and Pavement Design ◽

10.1080/14680629.2015.1044558 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 815-835 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Emiliano Pasquini ◽

Marco Pasetto ◽

Francesco Canestrari

Keyword(s):

Field Application ◽

Laboratory Simulation ◽

Asphalt Pavements ◽

Reflective Cracking

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Evaluation of Transverse Cracks for Semi-Rigid Asphalt Pavements using Deflection Basin Parameters

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/0361198119826075 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2673 (2) ◽

pp. 358-367

Author(s):

Lukuan Ma ◽

Min Li ◽

Jinsong Pang ◽

Chongwei Huang

Keyword(s):

Crack Width ◽

Shape Index ◽

Field Application ◽

Asphalt Pavements ◽

Fe Model ◽

Reflective Cracking ◽

Slope Ratio ◽

Transverse Cracks ◽

Base Interaction ◽

Area Index

To evaluate transverse cracks on a semi-rigid asphalt pavement by falling weight deflectometer (FWD), a three-dimensional (3D) dynamic finite-element (FE) model to calculate the deflections of transverse-cracked semi-rigid asphalt pavements under FWD loading was developed and validated by in-situ FWD tests. Then, the effect of crack types and crack width on the deflection basin was investigated for semi-rigid asphalt pavements under different interlayer contact conditions. The relationship between transverse cracks and deflection basin parameters (DBPs) was also analyzed. Finally, the slope ratio to evaluate transverse cracks was proposed and validated by field application. Results show that cracks on pavements will make the deflection basin steeper and the crack width slightly affects the deflections for the same type of crack without interaction between adjacent cracking surfaces. Results also indicate that deflection values increase obviously when the surface-base interaction changes from “Full bonded” to “Full slip.” In addition, results indicate that the slope index ( S1), the shape index ( F2), and the area index (AREA) correlate well with transverse cracks, and the surface cracking, “Reflective cracking 1” (surface and base cracking simultaneously), “Reflective cracking 2” (surface, base, and subbase cracking simultaneously) and the hidden cracking (base cracking, or base and subbase cracking simultaneously) can be identified by the slope ratio. Field application also indicates that the slope ratio can be applied to evaluate the types of transverse cracks on semi-rigid asphalt pavements.

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