Traffic load impact on the initiation and development of plastic deformations in road asphalt pavements

The up-to-date road pavement structure research methods and application computer programs are based on the theory of elasticity. This theory is most widely used in the model of road pavement structure response where the load under the action of vehicle wheel causes stresses and strains in pavement structure. When determining the bearing capacity of existing pavement structures and the need for their strengthening the most often used are the research data collected and/or engineering experience gained. This article presents the initiation and development of plastic deformations in asphalt pavement layers that were evaluated knowing the real loading conditions of tested structures. Research was accomplished in 12 structures with the different asphalt layers during the road exploitation period for 5 years used at identical conditions: under the same traffic load, weather conditions and hydrothermal regime of pavement structures.