Study of Axle Load Conversion for Pavement with Reflective Crack Based on Stress Intensify Factor

Abstract

By applying the theory of fatigue fracture, equivalent conversion of load between 3D model and plane strain model was performed according to the equivalent principle of maximal stress in undamaged semi – rigid base. Subsequently, by use of the theory of fatigue crack, axle load conversion coefficient of reflective crack under different loads based on the equivalent speed of crack expansion was presented. And then, the conversion coefficient was compared with the current specification for design of highway asphalt pavement. The result shows that (1) if axle mass is less than standard axle load, the axle load conversion coefficient based on the equivalent principle of crack propagation velocity is larger than that in existing specification; (2) on the contrary, it is smaller.