Simulation of asphalt concrete cracking using Cohesive Zone Model

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 38; pp. 1097 - 1106
• Main Authors: Chang, Li, Kaijian, Niu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2013; Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Asphalt; Asphalt pavements; Concrete; Low temperature cracking; Mathematical models; Mechanical properties; Simulation; China; Mathematical models; Simulation; Low temperature cracking; Asphalt pavements
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.09.063

► Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Test (TSRST) is simulated. ► Crack of asphalt concrete pavement under abrupt temperature drop is predicted. ► Cohesive Zone Model and viscoelastic model are used. ► Possible ways to control top-down crack are suggested. The top-down crack of asphalt pavement is very common in northern China. Its main reason is the abrupt temperature drop in winter. Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) is a new development in fracture mechanics. Recently, it is introduced to simulate the fracture procedure of Asphalt Concrete (AC) materials. This model has its advantages in considering non-linear property, investigating fracture path and crack propagation rule. Using CZM to simulate the fracture part of AC, combined with viscoelastic constitutive model, cracks produced by abrupt temperature drop are investigated. The Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Test (TSRST) is selected to verify the CZM model. Then, this model is used to a two-dimension (2D) pavement structure. Through parameter sensitivity analysis, it is found that the relaxation of AC materials retards the fracture procedure. The modulus and Poisson’s ratio are the key parameters to avoid crack during abrupt temperature dropping. It provides a potential way to improve the properties of AC used in cold areas for resisting top-down crack.