The influence of temperature variation in the prediction of the pavement overlay life

Abstract

This paper describes a study of the influence of temperature variation in the pavement overlay life, using finite-element methodology to consider the most predominant type of overlay distress observed in the field: reflective cracking. The temperature variation has a significant influence on thermally induced stresses that, in turn, affects the overlay predictive service life. This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis to predict the pavement overlay life considering a combination of thermal pavement conditions with traffic loads in a pavement overlay modelled on a cracked pavement. The results present the influence of temperature variation in the cracked layer and overlay, as function of the initial pavement temperature. Furthermore, a comparison between the overlay life due to traffic loading and temperature variation in the overlay life is also presented. Finally, the overlay life was predicted using asphalt rubber and conventional mix fatigue laws allowing to conclude that asphalt rubber mixes exhibit more pavement life compared to conventional mixes even when the effects of temperature (temperature variation) are considered in the overlay design.