Analysis of Mechanical Response of Epoxy Asphalt-Repaired Pavement in Pothole Interface on Steel Bridge Deck under Coupled Temperature-Dynamic Loading

Abstract

The persistence of pothole maintenance represents an enduring challenge. Past studies have largely concentrated on the materials and techniques used for remediation, with a lack of attention given to the pothole interface. This paper employed epoxy asphalt rubber (EAR-10) as the repair material, exploring the impact of coupled temperature-dynamic loading on the mechanical response of the interface. Finite element modelling (FEM), adopting the viscoelastic characteristics of EAR-10, was deployed to investigate the mechanical response of the interface under three temperature service conditions high, medium, and low when a dynamic load traversed the pothole. The stress variations in the interface at various inclinations and thicknesses of the repair blocks were also studied. In addition, the comparative analysis of high-temperature rut resistance for powdered rubber composite-modified asphalt and SBS modified asphalt was conducted via the multiple stress examination in terms of its high-temperature resilience, resistance to moisture-induced damage, and fatigue life by employing the asphalt mixture rutting test, low-temperature bending test on small beams, and the water immersion Marshall stability test, respectively. The repair efficacy of EAR-10 was appraised through post-repair water immersion rutting tests and bending tests on composite structural small beams. The results indicated that incorporating coupled temperature-dynamic loading led to a considerable increase in stress, particularly under low-temperature service conditions. An inclination angle of 30 degrees was found to be optimal for the interface. The research methodology presented here is pertinent to guiding the pothole repair in the steel bridge pavement, ensuring the strength and durability of the interface rivals that of newly constructed layers.