Approximate Calculation of Flexural Stresses and Tensile Strains in Asphalt Pavements

Abstract:

The flexural stresses and tensile strains in asphalt pavement layers were studied. The hood face coefficient was proposed to characterize the influences of vertical compression stresses and shear stresses on the flexural stresses and tensile strains; the neutral axis moving coefficient was introduced to describe the differences between smooth contact and full friction contact in layers; the flexure torque distribution coefficient was put forward to show the influences of different bend curvature on asphalt layer and base. As to asphalt pavement with nonuniform modulus, the surface equivalent modulus was deduced by bending rigidity equivalent principle, and then the errors of the approximate calculation methods for the tensile strains at the bottom of surface and the flexural stresses at the bottom of base in asphalt pavement whit nonuniform modulus were discussed. Usually, the approximate calculation errors are less than 5%.