The Role of Mathematical Models in Responding To Pavement Failures and Distresses in Texas

Abstract

As acknowledged by Cabalar, Karabash and Mustafa (2014) and Consoli, de Moraes and Festugato (2011), expansive soils are among the leading causes of distresses in pavements. Based on the parameter of moisture levels, Dang, Fatahi and Khabbaz (2016) stated that expansive soils experience significant alterations in their volume. According to Dash and Hussain (2012), this variation is attributed to fluctuations in the amount of moisture in the soil, an outcome in response to seasonal variations. In situations, where a region experiences high moisture, Hasan, Dang and Khabbaz et al. (2016) established that there is a likelihood of swelling beneath pavements established over expansive clays in the region. On the other hand, Hatmoko and Suryadharma (2017) asserted that when the level of soil moisture falls, there is a likelihood of shrinking, a predictor for significant deformation. In a similar observation, Johnson and Gopinath (2016) noted that these cycles of shrinking and swelling exhibit a direct correlation with pavement cracking. Whether this trend holds for the case of Houston, Texas remains unknown. However, the findings from this study suggest that mathematical models are informative in such a way that they explain the relationship between expansive soils and pavement deformation as that which is predicted by seasonal variations that cause alterations in the amount of moisture in soil.