Development of cohesive-zone-based prediction model for reflective cracking in asphalt overlay

ABSTRACT

Reflective crack has been a major problem of asphalt overlay on existing concrete pavements. Joint or crack movements of concrete slab induce the concentrated stress in asphalt layer; thus producing this distress. Rainwater can then infiltrate into subgrade through this crack opening and the loss support is expected. In addition, the cohesive zone model has been steadily utilised to investigate the fracture behaviour of pavement materials. This method can characterise the crack propagation to the real-life phenomenon. Further, current prediction models of reflective crack have adopted the concept of uniform crack propagation to simplify their analysis. This assumption may misinterpret the crack estimation since nonuniformly propagation occurs over the cross-sectional area of asphalt overlay. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a cohesive-zone-based prediction model that can reasonably compute the amount of reflective cracks with the consideration of nonuniform crack propagation. Available data from LTPP database were also collected for reflective crack modelling and calibration. In addition, traffic- and thermal-induced reflective crack was evaluated by 3D finite element method and cohesive zone model. The mechanistic results were afterward correlated with measured the amount of reflective crack to form the prediction formulation. This model consequently generated the acceptable results with measured reflective crack.

KEYWORDS:

• Cohesive zone model
• reflective cracking
• asphalt overlay
• jointed concrete pavement

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Basic Science Research Program: [Grant Number NRF-2017R1D1A3B03033714].