Open AccessInvestigation on seasonal variation of thermal-induced strain in flexible pavements based on field and laboratory measurements
Author(s) -
Simita Biswas,
Leila Hashemian,
Alireza Bayat
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of pavement research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1997-1400
pISSN - 1996-6814
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijprt.2016.08.008
Subject(s) - strain (injury) , asphalt pavement , asphalt , environmental science , thermal , seasonality , slab , rut , geotechnical engineering , materials science , meteorology , composite material , structural engineering , geology , engineering , ecology , geography , biology , medicine
Pavement temperature variation has a large influence on the structural response of flexible pavements. Daily and seasonal temperature fluctuation causes expansion and contraction of pavement material, which then leads to the generation of thermal strain. In this study, field observation and laboratory tests were conducted to investigate seasonal variation of thermal-induced strain in flexible pavement. Field observations were conducted at the Integrated Road Research Facility (IRRF)’s test road in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which is fully equipped with structural and environmental monitoring instruments. The main objective of the field study was to compare the variation of thermal-induced strain in warm and cold seasons. Field results indicated that thermal-induced strain is 1.4–2.0 times greater in cold seasons than in warm seasons following the same pavement temperature variations; however, strain generation rate was greater in warm seasons. Laboratory testing of asphalt slab and cylindrical samples produced comparable ratios. Moreover, field observation and laboratory testing showed a similar trend of temperature and thermal strain variations