Effects of Material Cross-anisotropy on the Mechanical Responses of Asphalt Pavements

Abstract

Granular road materials have been experimentally demonstrated to be cross-anisotropic. This paper explores the mechanical behavior of asphalt pavements with cross-anisotropic unbound aggregate layers (UAB)/subgrade through three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) simulation. The analysis results indicate that (1) the cross-anisotropy of UAB has significant effects on the critical stresses and strains at critical depths; (2) the cross-anisotropy of subgrade has considerable effects on the surface deflection and the vertical strain at the top of the subgrade. Subsequent pavement performance predictions indicate that cross-anisotropy of UAB has great negative effect on pavement life in terms of fatigue cracking and rutting potential. Therefore, the cross-anisotropy of UAB and subgrade layer should be considered in the mechanical analysis of asphalt pavements.