EVALUATION OF FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS AND OVERLAY DESIGN BASED ON F.W.D. TESTS. SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF ASPHALT PAVEMENTS, VOLUME I, PROCEEDINGS, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, JULY 13-17, 1987, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

In this report a procedure is described that evaluates the remaining life of flexible pavements from tests carried out with the Falling Weight Deflectometer. A method was developed that allows an evaluation of pavement layers moduli using the deflections measured under the F.W.D. load (PA.STR.EV. Program). A bituminous layers fatigue distress model was also developed that takes into account the effect of cracks propagation. Using this model it is possible to evaluate the allowable load repetitions related to different cracking stages of pavement surface. The input data required by the model are the tensile strains at the bottom of the bituminous layers. The stress/strain distribution induced by traffic loads was calculated using a finite element program (NOL.A.P.) that utilizes the elastic characteristics obtained from the PA.STR.EV. Program. The pavements are schematized as an elastic four layer body: a linear elastic law was adopted for the bituminous layers, a nonlinear elastic law was used for the unbound layers. Using these models it is possible to forecast the evolution of the pavement condition and to determine the pavement surface distress curve. Afterwards a procedure is described that evaluates the percentage of the initial thickness of a bituminous layer affected by cracking. The fatigue distress model was used to calculate the residual life of the sound part of a partially cracked bituminous layer. The result was a diagram in which the percentage of residual life is linked to the percentage of cracked thickness. Finally this procedure allows the calculation of an overlay working life.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Authors:
  • MARCHIONNA, A
  • Fornaci, M G
  • MALGARINI, M
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 628-637
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Michigan University, Ann Arbor
  • Publisher: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Computer programs; Conferences; Cracking; Evaluation; Falling weight deflectometers; Finite element method; Flexible pavements; Forecasting; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement cracking; Pavement layers; Pavement performance; Pavements; Service life; Tension; Thickness; Traffic loads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation; Pavement conditions; Pavement thickness
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement life
• Subject Areas: Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00485630
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1989 12:00AM