Creep behavior and rutting resistance of asphalt pavements by experimental testing and Finite Element modelling

Abstract

Asphalt pavement rutting is a major safety concern because it affects the handling of vehicles. Research into effectively predicting of asphalt pavement rutting is extremely necessary as it can help develop an optimal design of asphalt mixture against rutting. The primary objectives of this study are to develop numerical models to investigate the asphalt pavement rutting. Previous study’s experimental tests including triaxial repeated compression loading and wheel track testing were used to evaluate the visco-elasto-plastic behavior and rutting resistance of different pavement mixes. Based on the test results, sets of visco-elasto-plastic creep parameters for the asphalt pavement mixes were characterized and related to their rutting resistances. Numerical simulations using three-dimensional Finite Element models were developed to simulate both the triaxial compression and wheel track testing. A ‘strain hardening’ creep material model with the material parameters developed from experimental testing was employed in the Finite Element modelling to the time-dependent characteristics of the asphalt concrete pavements. The Finite Element results were validated against the experimental results to demonstrate that the Finite Element simulations can be used to effectively evaluate the rutting behavior of asphalt concrete pavements.