Title: Assessment of Thermal Stresses in Asphalt Pavements Due To Environmental Conditions
Abstract: Temperature fluctuations in asphalt pavements significantly affect pavement stability and the selection of asphalt grading. Ability to accurately predict asphalt pavement temperatures at different depths and horizontal locations based on environmental conditions will greatly help pavement engineers not only in the selection of the asphalt grade to be used in various pavement lifts, but also in the accurate assessment of thermal stresses in and between various asphalt lifts. This is especially critical when the asphalt pavement is exposed to extreme freeze and thaw conditions. Accurate knowledge of the temperature and thermal stress distribution in asphalt pavements will allow for a more sophisticated specification of asphalt binder grades for lower lifts and thus provide an economical solution to rising pavement construction costs. This report is Phase II of a previous MPC research project (MPC Report No. 02-136) that developed a computer model using a transient, two-dimensional finite volume approach to mathematically describe the thermal response of asphalt pavements due to thermal environmental conditions on an hourly basis. The main objective of Phase II research is to expand the capabilities of the computer model to include the thermal effects of precipitation and to study the impact of the tilt angle from the horizontal of an asphalt pavement on asphalt temperature predictions. With the expanded capabilities of the computer model, it will be possible to develop preliminary thermal stress maps of asphalt pavements during seasonal and diurnal freeze/thaw cycles.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 6
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