Journal of Transportation Research

Journal of Transportation Research

The Effect of Loading Pattern on the Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures in Semi Circular Bending Test

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D., Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of variables such as loading pattern, speed and axle interaction on the number of loading cycles of asphalt mixtures and to compare the number of loading cycles using the semi-circular bending test in two shear (II) and shear-flexural combination (I/II) modes. Three loading patterns corresponding to single, double and triple axles with axle interaction levels of 25% and 75% were assumed. This study was analyzed based on loading times corresponding to speeds of 32 (200 ms) and 64 (100 ms) km/h. The results showed the following: the type of axle has a relatively small effect on the amount of rutting damage of asphalt pavements, with the largest effects related to the double loading pattern and about 20%; mathematical relationships can be effective in predicting the effects of the loading pattern in different modes and there is a high correlation between the number of loading cycles in the experimental mode and the formula mode; Decreasing speed leads to a slight increase in the initial strain or rutting failure in asphalt pavements, so it can be concluded that the effect of vehicle loading duration on pavements is greater during the initial periods of operation; rutting failure increases with decreasing vehicle wheelbase. Comparing the value of f_1 at both levels, it can be seen that this value increases by about 25% at the 75% level.
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