Relation of homogeneity and mechanical response of asphalt pavements

The degree of homogeneity determines directly the performance-related properties and service life of asphalt pavements, and influences the overall life cycle cost of pavement preservation. Homogeneity has been an index of asphalt pavement Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Control (QC). At present the effect of homogeneity on the mechanical response of pavements has been investigated lesser, even homogeneity is paid much attention in the field. The purpose of this research is to study the relation of homogeneity and mechanical response of asphalt pavements. The basic assumptions were introduced in brief. The pavement structural models and structural parameters were also given. Finally based on multilayered elastic analysis software program BISAR, the relationship between homogeneity and the mechanical response of asphalt pavements was investigated via computing the stress, strain and displacement at the bottom of each structural layer. Results show that homogeneity influences the mechanical response of asphalt pavements; under the same vehicle load and natural environmental factors the displacement is more in flexible base asphalt pavement than in semi-rigid base asphalt pavement, and the tensile strain is more at the flexible base bottom than at the semi-rigid base bottom; the tensile stress almost always appears at the asphalt surface and the base bottom, and usually is more at the semi-rigid base asphalt surface than at the flexible base asphalt surface.