Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Load Failure at the Interface Joint of Repaired Potholes Using Hot Mix Asphalt with Steel Fiber Additive

Abstract

The maintenance of potholes is a long-standing problem. Previous studies focused on pothole patching materials and methods but not on bonding at the interface joint. In this study, the influence of the patching shape and depth on the bonding at the interface joint using two patching materials: hot mix asphalt (HMA) and hot mix asphalt containing 5% (by volume) steel fiber (HMA+) was investigated. Slabs with circular and square potholes in the middle with different depths (35, 50 and 70 mm) were prepared. The two shapes of potholes were patched with two patching materials: HMA and HMA+, at different depths. The slabs were tested after patching using a rigid steel frame. The experimental results were compared with those obtained from finite element analysis using the ABAQUS software, applying the same model of slabs with the same dimensions and properties of the materials used. The results indicated that the bonding at joint interface for circular-patched potholes slightly improved using HMA+ and this was independent of patching depth. As for the square-patched potholes, the bonding at the interface joint was better than for the circular-patched ones; the bonding increased with increasing depth. Using HMA+ for patching the square-patched potholes, the bonding at the interface joint slightly increased, only for the 3.5 cm depth.