Modelling of low-temperature behaviour of cracks in asphalt pavement structures

Abstract

This paper examines the transient stress analysis of a multilayer pavement structure subjected to heat conduction and associated thermoelastic effects by the cooling of its surface. In particular, the layered structure contains a transverse crack which can be created either during the construction of the pavement or during its service life. The numerical treatment of the transient stress analysis is achieved using a finite element scheme, which models the heat conduction and thermoelasticity of each component in the layered system and the singular stress field at the extremities of a crack. The numerical scheme is applied to examine the manner in which the propagation of an existing crack is influenced by the thermoelastic mismatch between the layers adjacent to the crack location. The analysis also illustrates the influence of the thermoelastic mismatch between a cracked pavement and an overlay, in the suppression of crack propagation. Key words: fracture mechanics, pavement structures, low-temperature fracture, transient thermal effects, finite element modelling, stress intensity factors.