Performance research of fiber-reinforced asphalt rubber as a stress-absorbing membrane interlayer

Abstract

To delay the expansion of reflective cracks on semi-rigid base asphalt pavements and strengthen the cracking resistance of asphalt rubber stress-absorbing membrane interlayers, the bonding and fracture performances as well as cracking resistance of a fiber-reinforced asphalt rubber stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (FAR-SAMI), rubber asphalt stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (AR-SAMI), and SBS-modified asphalt stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (AS-SAMI) were studied. In addition, the resistance to reflective cracking for FAR-SAMI was evaluated by finite element (FE) analysis. The results show that FAR-SAMI exhibits appropriate bonding performance at 15$$ and 40$°C.$ The addition of glass fiber increases the toughness of the composite specimens and the fracture energy of FAR-SAMI increases by 23% compared with AR-SAMI. Furthermore, FAR-SAMI is effective in restraining the development of reflection cracks and prolonging the fatigue life. FE analysis also shows that FAR-SAMI can significantly reduce the stress concentration phenomenon in the crack. Therefore, fiber-reinforced asphalt rubber was found to be suitable as a SAMI to prevent and control reflective cracking.

Keywords:

• Stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI)
• glass fiber
• fracture energy
• fatigue life
• finite element analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from Shaanxi Transportation and Transportation Department.