Stop of reflective crack propagation with the use of pet geogrid as asphalt overlay reinforcement

Title: Stop of reflective crack propagation with the use of pet geogrid as asphalt overlay reinforcement
Author(s): G. Montestruque, R. Rodrigues, M. Nods, A. Elsing
Paper category : conference
Book title: Fifth International RILEM Conference on Reflective Cracking in Pavements
Editor(s): C. Petit, I.L. Al-Qadi and A. Millien
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-47-0
e-ISBN: 2912143764
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: 231 - 239
Total Pages: 9
Nb references: 3
Language: English

Abstract: Asphalt concrete overlays placed over cracked pavements suffer large stresses at the interface under the passage of traffic loads, leading to the reflection-cracking phenomenon. This paper presents a laboratory study for evaluation of the effect of a polyester geogrid as an interlayer reinforcement between a cracked asphalt concrete layer and a non cracked one. The quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the effects of reinforcement system in relation to the traditional rehabilitation technique of asphalt concrete overlay was performed using dynamic fatigue tests were conducted on prismatic beams resting on an elastic foundation that were conceived to simulate a cracked pavement after rehabilitation, with the load applied at the two critical positions: on bending and on shearing. The beams with dimensions of 460 x 150 x 75 mm, had a pre-crack with an opening of 3, 6 and 9 mm. The geogrid was placed on the crack tip. Increases on the fatigue life were observed. The cracking mechanism was changed from a process controlled by a single dominating crack to another one where several micro cracks were formed. These micro cracks were of lower severity, leading to a better performance for the asphalt concrete overlay. The presence of the polyester geogrid had the effect of drastically reducing the opening of the reflective crack and reducing of the plastic deformation on the fatigue life. Simulation using Finite Element Model (FEM) explains the mechanism observed in laboratory.

Online publication: 2004-04-15
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00