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The main objective of the presented research is to develop a model in order to
predict fracture of asphalt road surface impacted by an automobile tire stud. As a result of the
analysis it is demonstrated that the critical automobile speed leading to creation of fracture in
asphalt does depend on combination of asphalt mean elastic modulus and special dynamic
strength characteristics responsible for the incubation process of microcracking caused by
impacts. It is shown that in certain conditions smaller elastic moduli combined with bigger
ductility of compound and increased dynamic strength can result in greater threshold car
velocities giving brittle damage to asphalt. At the same time larger elastic moduli can provide
better performance of asphalt layer undergoing quasistatic loading (slow heavy traffic). One
of the practical solutions to maximize durability of highways is to use different asphalt
mixtures in right (slower) and left (faster) traffic lanes. This can be, for example, achieved by
addition of plasticizers into asphalt mixture used to cover high-speed traffic lanes. FEM
simulation is giving a quantitative prediction of critical vehicle velocities leading to initiation
of fracture in asphalt.
Keywords: asphalt pavement; erosion; fracture; impact; tire stud; optimization; incubation process |
full paper (pdf, 1744 Kb)