• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.77-83
• /
• 2015

PURPOSES : In this study, a fracture-based finite element (FE) model is proposed to evaluate the fracture behavior of fiber-reinforced asphalt (FRA) concrete under various interface conditions. METHODS : A fracture-based FE model was developed to simulate a double-edge notched tension (DENT) test. A cohesive zone model (CZM) and linear viscoelastic model were implemented to model the fracture behavior and viscous behavior of the FRA concrete, respectively. Three models were developed to characterize the behavior of interfacial bonding between the fiber reinforcement and surrounding materials. In the first model, the fracture property of the asphalt concrete was modified to study the effect of fiber reinforcement. In the second model, spring elements were used to simulated the fiber reinforcement. In the third method, bar and spring elements, based on a nonlinear bond-slip model, were used to simulate the fiber reinforcement and interfacial bonding conditions. The performance of the FRA in resisting crack development under various interfacial conditions was evaluated. RESULTS : The elastic modulus of the fibers was not sensitive to the behavior of the FRA in the DENT test before crack initiation. After crack development, the fracture resistance of the FRA was found to have enhanced considerably as the elastic modulus of the fibers increased from 450 MPa to 900 MPa. When the adhesion between the fibers and asphalt concrete was sufficiently high, the fiber reinforcement was effective. It means that the interfacial bonding conditions affect the fracture resistance of the FRA significantly. CONCLUSIONS : The bar/spring element models were more effective in representing the local behavior of the fibers and interfacial bonding than the fracture energy approach. The reinforcement effect is more significant after crack initiation, as the fibers can be pulled out sufficiently. Both the elastic modulus of the fiber reinforcement and the interfacial bonding were significant in controlling crack development in the FRA.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2015

PURPOSES : The objective of this study is to propose a quality control and quality assurance method for use during asphalt pavement construction using non-destructive methods, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and an infrared (IR) camera. METHODS : A 1.0 GHz air-coupled GPR system was used to measure the thickness and in situ density of asphalt concrete overlay during the placement and compaction of the asphalt layer in two test construction sections. The in situ density of the asphalt layer was estimated based on the dielectric constant of the asphalt concrete, which was measured as the ratio of the amplitude of the surface reflection of the asphalt mat to that of a metal plate. In addition, an IR camera was used to monitor the surface temperature of the asphalt mat to ensure its uniformity, for both conventional asphalt concrete and fiber-reinforced asphalt (FRA) concrete. RESULTS : From the GPR test, the measured in situ air void of the asphalt concrete overlay gradually decreased from 12.6% at placement to 8.1% after five roller passes for conventional asphalt concrete, and from 10.7% to 5.9% for the FRA concrete. The thickness of the asphalt concrete overlay was reduced from 7.0 cm to 6.0 cm for the conventional material, and from 9.2 cm to 6.4 cm for the FRA concrete. From the IR camera measurements, the temperature differences in the asphalt mat ranged from $10^{\circ}C$ to $30^{\circ}C$ in the two test sections. CONCLUSIONS : During asphalt concrete construction, GPR and IR tests can be applicable for monitoring the changes in in situ density, thickness, and temperature differences of the overlay, which are the most important factors for quality control. For easier and more reliable quality control of asphalt overlay construction, it is better to use the thickness measurement from the GPR.