Influence of Interface Bonding Condition and Base Layer Elastic Modulus on Asphalt Pavement Structure Mechanical Response to Non-Uniform Loads
Lana Elabbas Abdelhaliem Babiker et al.
What the paper says
This study established the ratio of the base layer’s elastic modulus to that of the surface layer Rm as a key variable to systematically investigate how the base layer’s elastic modulus influences the mechanical response and service life of flexible pavement. A three-dimensional finite element model of a three-layer pavement system was analysed, using EverStressFE, with a constant surface layer modulus and a variable base layer modulus. The analysis included two important interfacial bonding conditions: full bonding and full slip. It also considered that the actual wheel loads are not uniform but rather follow concave and convex distribution patterns. The mechanical responses, including deflection at the top of the asphalt layer, tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt layer εxx, and vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade εzz, were quantified to predict fatigue life (for cracking) and rutting life (for permanent deformation). The results indicated that the maximum deflection reached 0.53 mm under a full slip condition with a convex load distribution at Rm = 0.75. Critical tensile strains at the bottom of the asphalt layer were most severe under full slip with a convex load, reaching 348 × 10−6, while the fully bonded, concave case resulted in a much lower value of 83 × 10−6. Similarly, the maximum vertical compressive strain on the subgrade was 365 × 10−6 for the fully slipped, convex case compared to 250 × 10−6 for the fully bonded, concave case. A lower Rm value under full slip with a concave load distribution significantly reduced the pavement lifespan, with predicted fatigue life decreasing by over 60% and rutting life by nearly 45% compared to the fully bonded case. On the other hand, a convex load distribution greatly increased the pavement’s bearing capacity by raising the critical strain thresholds and lengthening the expected service life. These findings underscore the paramount importance of interface bonding and load distribution patterns, suggesting that they can outweigh the influence of the base layer’s modulus alone on pavement design.
Evidence weight
Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40
| F · citation impact | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
| M · momentum | 0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07 |
| V · venue signal | 0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03 |
| R · text relevance † | 0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20 |
† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.