Full-Scale Test of Thermally-Induced Reflective Cracking

While a reflective cracking propagation rate of 1 inch per year is well accepted by airport pavement engineers, the mechanism of reflective cracking under field conditions has not been fully investigated. The life span of the pavement rehabilitation is appreciably reduced without proper treatment or elimination of existing cracks and/or joints. A recently completed project sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to the development of the Temperature Effect Simulation System (TESS). After an in-depth evaluation of the TESS, full-scale tests to mechanically simulate thermally-induced reflective cracking were conducted. A large simulation matrix was first developed to select promising joint opening and displacement rates using three-dimensional viscoelastic-based finite element analyses. A test pavement was then built, instrumented, and tested at the FAA National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF). This paper describes the successful full-scale test, crack monitoring under accelerated loading, and the data analysis used to evaluate the 1 inch per year assessment. Furthermore, significant insights towards the mechanisms and mitigation of thermally-induced reflective cracking were obtained and presented. Findings from this study are of immediate assistance to airports supporting light to medium weight aircraft and experiencing significant temperature cycling.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AV070 Aircraft/Airport Compatibility. Alternate title: Full-Scale Test of Thermally Induced Reflective Cracking.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Yin, Hao
  • Barbagallo, Donald
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Finite element method; Reflection cracking; Simulation; Temperature
• Identifier Terms: National Airport Pavement Test Facility
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01506461
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-0690
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 3 2014 12:23PM