Adaptation measures for asphalt pavements to climate change in China

Abstract

Climate change is impacting on pavement infrastructure in China. To eliminate the issues of asphalt freeway pavement caused by climate change, this study evaluated the temperature change in China from 2020 to 2059. The related pavement issues include rutting, fatigue life, and thermal crack caused by climate change are assessed based on the prediction models incorporated with the predicted future climate. The potential future distresses were analyzed, quantified, and cataloged, then the effectiveness of optional adaptation measures included adjustment of structure thickness, dynamic modulus, and creep stiffness were analyzed. Finally, a method to select and quantify the adaptation measures was developed based on the effectiveness analysis of adaptation measures. The major findings of this study are listed below: (1) Temperature rise is the general trend, rutting and fatigue issue is typical issue caused by climate change. (2) Extreme low temperature issue would occur more severe for some area in future, up to 35% of pavement would have more severe thermal crack issue caused by climate change in 2050s. (3) Six quantified adaptation measures were suggested to solve these two types of issues caused by climate change.