Determination of maximum axial loads at the stage of operation of non-rigid pavements based on the analysis of complete deformation diagrams

Abstract

The article is devoted to the development and experimental justification of the possibility of determining the axial loads of flexible pavements on the basis of full deformation diagrams recorded under shock loading. Results: The drawbacks of the existing regulatory methods for determining the axial load limit from the impact of vehicles at the operation stage are considered. It is noted that the definition of axial loads only on the strength factor, has several disadvantages associated with the need for information on the design value of the modulus of elasticity of the pavement, as well as the inconsistency of the existing regulatory framework for road design with real traffic loads. It is proposed to determine the maximum axial loads on the basis of the analysis of the complete deformation diagrams recorded at different values of the dynamic load shock load. For the first time, an approach to determining axial loads is proposed, based on the construction of a curve in the coordinates “increase of dissipated energy (ΔW) – load on the coating (F)”, and the load initiating the transition from proportional increase of the dissipated energy with increasing contact load, disproportionately. An example is given of determining the maximum axial load on the pavement cover for the exploited section of the M4 “DON” highway Conclusions: The possibility of determining the limiting axial loads on the pavement coating, based on the analysis of the complete deformation diagrams recorded during impact loading on the pavement coating, was experimentally justified. The need for further improvement and a set of a database of experimental data on changes in limiting axial loads in different periods of the year is noted.