Numerical analysis of fatigue cracks growth in flexible pavements with the elastoplastic fracture mechanics method

Abstract

In this paper the elastoplastic fracture mechanics method to analyse the fatigue damage of the flexible pavement has been applied. This approach is an appropriate alternative for analysing the fatigue cracking damage of a road pavement, with respect to traditional methodologies based on the use of the experimental fatigue laws of the bituminous mixtures. In this regard, a numerical method to evaluate the stress intensity factor at the edge of the crack has been used and the Paris' law to analyse the crack propagation into bituminous layer has been applied. Then, a comparison with the linear elastic fracture mechanic method and with the traditional approach based on the use of the fatigue laws has been carried out. A numerical example has shown the influence of the elastoplastic properties of the bituminous materials in the phenomenon of propagation of the fracture.

Keywords::

• pavement design
• damage
• fatigue
• roads
• pavement management
• infrastructure

Notes

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