Permanent Deformation Evaluation and Instability Prediction of Semi-rigid Pavement Structure Using Accelerated Pavement Testing and Finite Element Method

Abstract

A rutting prediction method for semi-rigid pavement structures using accelerated loading tests and finite element analysis was proposed in this study. Firstly, dynamic modulus and creep tests of three pavement materials were performed by changing sizes and temperatures. The prediction equation was obtained and verified using the falling weight deflectometer test and back-calculation modulus, and it was coupled into a modified Burgers model for rutting simulation for full-scale pavement structures. Results showed that the dynamic modulus of pavement materials increased with increasing specimen sizes and decreased with increasing temperature. SUP-25 had an enormous fatigue damage value (0.419) after 5,400 times repeated loading. The error between the rutting simulation and test results was 2.87 %, indicating that the model effectively applies to multilayer composite materials. Rutting deformation at one million loading times in summer was 4.6 times that in winter. From 22 to 120 km/h, rutting deformation decreased by 72.6 %. Axle load increased by 100 %, and rutting depth increased by 46.9 %, indicating that vehicle overload should be restricted, especially in low-speed sections in high-temperature areas. Rutting deformation entered the accelerated accumulation stage when the cumulative action times were more than 25 million, which requires timely maintenance and repair of pavement structures.