Influence of the interface conditions on flexible pavement structures life

Abstract This paper aims to establish the interface conditions influence on the flexible pavement structures life. The methodology consists in using the interface constitutive model available in the Alizé calculation program to calculate the stresses and strains in the flexible pavement structures. The design criteria related to limiting fatigue cracking of asphalt layers and permanent deformations at the subgrade level from the road bed are used to estimate the flexible pavement structures lifetime. When calculating the critical stresses and strains, most mechanical design methods of the flexible pavement structures considers that the road layers at interfaces are perfect bonded or total unbonded. Proper modeling of the interface binding condition is an important aspect in understanding the real behaviour of in-service flexible pavement structures.