EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC LOAD, TEMPERATURE AND MATERIAL PROPERTIES ON RUTTING IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS

Asim, Muhammad · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.26782/jmcms.2021.09.00008

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Summary

This study investigates the factors influencing rutting, a form of permanent deformation, in flexible pavements, specifically focusing on the impacts of traffic load, temperature, and material properties. Rutting is identified as a critical pavement distress that compromises structural integrity and safety by facilitating water infiltration and increasing the risk of hydroplaning. The research aims to quantify how these variables interact to exacerbate pavement damage, utilizing finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate realistic loading and thermal conditions. The methodology employed ABAQUS version 6.12.1 to create a three-dimensional finite element model of a flexible pavement structure. The model consisted of four distinct layers: an asphalt layer (12 cm), a granular base layer (15 cm), a sub-base layer (13 cm), and a subgrade layer (15 cm). The simulation used C3D8R elements with specific material properties, including Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, for each layer. Three primary scenarios were analyzed: traffic loading alone, combined traffic and thermal loading, and variations in material properties. Traffic loads were simulated using a standard axle load of 18 kip with contact pressures ranging from 600 kPa to 900 kPa. Thermal conditions were introduced by raising the local temperature to 45°C. Additionally, the study examined the effect of increasing the Young’s modulus of the pavement materials by 5% and 10% increments. The results demonstrated that rutting is significantly influenced by all three factors. Under traffic loading alone, the asphalt layer contributed 47.1% of the total rut depth, followed by the base course at 43.87%, with the sub-base and subgrade contributing 5.95% and 3.08%, respectively. Increasing tire pressure from 600 kPa to 900 kPa increased cumulative rut depth from 3.85 mm to 5.88 mm. When combined with high temperatures (45°C), rut depths increased substantially; for instance, at 600 kPa, the cumulative rut depth rose to 10.37 mm. The study found that combined traffic and thermal loading increased rut depth by factors of 2.23, 2.98, 3.1, and 4.1 times for the asphalt, base, sub-base, and subgrade layers, respectively, compared to traffic loading alone. Furthermore, improving material properties by increasing Young’s modulus reduced rutting; a 5% increase in modulus decreased rut depth by 4.66%, while a 10% increase reduced it by 9.32%. The study concludes that higher tire pressures and elevated temperatures significantly accelerate pavement rutting, with the asphalt and base layers bearing the majority of the deformation. The findings highlight the critical importance of thermal conditions in pavement design, as high temperatures drastically amplify the effects of traffic loads. Additionally, enhancing the elastic modulus of pavement materials offers a viable strategy for mitigating rutting. These insights provide a quantitative basis for optimizing pavement design and material selection to improve durability and safety in regions with high traffic volumes and summer temperatures.

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• road surface friction