Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement on curved concrete bridge deck using a mesostructure-based multi-scale method

Abstract

Curved concrete bridges are an important infrastructure form, which meet the needs of modern transportation. Due to their relatively sophisticated geometries, asphalt pavements on the bridge decks are typically subjected to more severe loadings. This study investigated multi-scale mechanical responses of asphalt pavement on a curved bridge deck by using a macro-mesoscale coupling algorithm that can rationally considered the mesostructure of asphalt concrete. The influence of driving speeds, curvature radii, and temperatures on the mechanical responses of different scales was analyzed. The results showed that with the increase of the curvature radius and the decrease of the driving speed, both unevenness of tire loads on the asphalt pavement and stress concentrations in the mesostructure of the asphalt pavement were reduced. Under low temperature, asphalt concrete pavement on the deck encountered stress concentration and mesoscopic damage more easily. Increasing temperature can reduce these effects; however, due to the decrease of its asphalt mortar modulus, plastic deformation may occur in the pavement.