Asphalt pavement design optimisation: a case study using viscoelastic continuum damage theory

ABSTRACT

Fatigue cracking is the main type of distress in flexible pavements in Brazil. Numerical models that are based on viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) theory can help to explain the damage evolution process in asphalt mixtures, thereby allowing the proper analysis of the fatigue phenomenon. This paper aims to characterise and verify the fatigue behaviour of four test sites constructed with dense asphalt mixtures in Santa Maria, Brazil, employing field monitoring, linear viscoelastic characterisation, uniaxial cyclic fatigue testing, the simplified VECD (S-VECD) model, and FlexPAVE^TM software. This study’s results are coupled with a cost/benefit analysis of the evaluated test sites. The constructed sites are compared to simulated optimal pavement designed using FlexPAVE^TM and fatigue damage transfer function. The results indicate that this study’s methodology can predict fatigue damage evolution by identifying early cracking in two of the test sites and capturing good fatigue resistance in the other two sites. Furthermore, in both cases of early cracking, the design requirements for fatigue resistance could be met by increasing the asphalt layer thickness (optimal pavements), which significantly reduced the US$/N_FATIGUE ratio. Thus, an improved cost/benefit ratio was realised for the pavements designed using this methodology and analysed using only an established fatigue criterion.

KEYWORDS:

• Fatigue cracking
• S-VECD model
• FlexPAVE^TM
• cyclic fatigue test
• economic analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank ANP/Petrobras, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes) for their financial support and grants.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 Abbreviation for federal highways in Brazil.

2 Abbreviation for Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state highways in Brazil.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; Petrobras.

Notes on contributors

Lucas Dotto Bueno

Lucas Dotto Bueno Doctor in Civil Engineering, graduated from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM – Graduation, Master and Doctor’s Degree). He is currently a professor of the Civil Engineering course at the UNIFTEC University Center and a researcher at the Study and Research Group on Pavement and Road Safety (GEPPASV/UFSM), with researches focused on field monitoring and asphalt paving laboratory.

Silvio Lisboa Schuster

Silvio Lisboa Schuster Doctor’s Degree student of the Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Maria. He is currently a researcher in the Study and Research Group on Pavement and Road Safety (GEPPASV/UFSM), working with the analysis and modelling of mechanical behaviour in asphalt materials, and flexible pavement mechanics.

Luciano Pivoto Specht

Luciano Pivoto Specht He completed his Doctor Degree in Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in 2004 and a sabbatical on the École Nationale des Travaux Publics de LÉtat (Université de Lyon) in 2015. He was professor at UNIJUI – Regional University of the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul State, acting in the course of Civil Engineering and Master in Mathematical Modeling from 2001 to 2011. Currently an associate professor at UFSM – Federal University of Santa Maria, working at Civil Engineering course and as Coordinator (2019-2021) of the Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (Master and Doctor Degree), as well as professor of PPGEC at UFRGS. He has experience in Civil Engineering, focusing on Paving, Geotechnics and Transport, acting on the following subjects: flexible pavements, transport infrastructure, paving materials, asphalt concrete and environment. He is a full member of the Asphalt Commission of the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels.

Deividi da Silva Pereira

Deividi da Silva Pereira Graduated in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria (1998), Master's degree (2001) and Doctor’s degree (2003) in Transport Engineering from the University of São Paulo (EPUSP). In 2015 he held a senior internship in the United States at the University of Minnesota, participating in projects with FHWA and MnDOT. He was assistant professor and assistant professor at the Catholic University of Pelotas (UCPEL). Developed professional engineering activities in consultancy and road concession companies between 2003 and 2007. He is currently an associate professor at UFSM – Federal University of Santa Maria, working in the Civil Engineering course and in the Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (Master and Doctor’s Degree). At UFSM, he has accumulated experiences in university management, having held positions in the coordination of the Civil Engineering course and in the Deputy Director of the Technology Center. Has experience in Civil and Transport Engineering, focusing on road infrastructure, acting on the following subjects: asphalt pavement, pavement mechanics, concrete pavement, road safety, paving materials, structural and functional evaluation of pavements and road costs.

Luis Alberto Herrmann do Nascimento

Luis Alberto Herrmann do Nascimento Holds a Doctor’s Degree in civil engineering from North Carolina State University (2015). He is currently a technical consultant at the Leopoldo Américo Miguez de Mello Research and Development Center (CENPES). Has experience in the field of asphalt binders, paving materials, pavement analysis and advanced characterisation of asphalt materials behaviour.

Youngsoo Richard Kim

Youngsoo Richard Kim Dr. Y. Richard Kim received his Bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University, Korea, and Master’s and PhD degrees from Texas A&M University, USA. Currently Dr. Kim is the Jimmy D. Clark Distinguished University Professor and Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He has over thirty years of experience in both the laboratory and field aspects of the performance evaluation of asphalt materials and pavements.

Maira Geane Birgeier Brenner

Maira Geane Birgeier Brenner Undergraduate student in Civil Engineering at Federal University of Santa Maria and researcher at the Study and Research Group on Pavement and Road Safety (GEPPASV/UFSM).