Effects of Layer Interfacial Bonding Conditions on the Mechanistic Responses in Asphalt Pavements

Abstract

The bonding condition between pavement layers plays an important role in the performance of pavement structures. In this paper, a three dimensional finite-element (3D-FE) program was used for modeling the mechanistic responses (stresses and strains) in the asphalt concrete (AC) layers by simulating two layer interfacial bonding conditions, namely fully bonded and debonded (i.e., the layer separated but still considering friction). The 3D-FE modeling incorporated actual measured vertical tire-pavement contact pressure (TPCP) and assumed horizontal TPCP, including investigating the effects of vehicle acceleration and deceleration. The results of these computational modeling are presented in this paper and indicated that the layer interfacial bonding condition has a significant effect on some pavement mechanistic responses such as the tensile, compressive, and shear stresses/strains in AC pavement structures. In general, layer interface debonding (or separation) was analytically found to indirectly exacerbate pavement distresses such as slippage cracking, fatigue cracking, shoving, shear deformation, and rutting, which is undesirable.