Hydro-mechanical analysis of water-induced pothole patch failure in asphalt pavement

Abstract

Pothole repair is one of most common roadway maintenance to improve driving comfort and reduce safety risk. This study aimed to conduct hydro-mechanical analysis of water-induced pothole patch failure in asphalt pavement. Three-dimensional finite element models are used to analyze the coupled hydraulic and mechanical responses of surface patching under moving traffic loading considering different wheel path locations and asphalt patch sizes. The model results under dry and saturated conditions were validated against field measurements and simulation results from the literature, respectively. Laboratory tests were conducted to measure dynamic modulus and permeability of asphalt patch material. Analysis results show that regardless of patch size and wheel path, the maximum pore water pressure occurs either at the patch body or the interface between the patch and surrounding pavement when traffic loading approaches the pothole. The hydraulic scouring effect was observed with positive and negative pore pressure under moving loads. The maximum interface shear stress at the interface between the patch and surrounding pavement under traffic loading was found close to the bonding strength, especially for big-shallow patch. The comparison of asphalt patch responses at dry and saturated conditions indicates that water intrusion mainly accelerates edge disintegration of pothole patch.