Cracked asphalt pavement under traffic loading – A 3D finite element analysis

An asphalt pavement containing a transverse top-down crack is investigated under traffic loading using 3D finite element analysis. The stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the T-stress are calculated for different distances between the crack and the vehicle wheels. It is found that all the three Modes (I, II and III) are present in the crack deformation. The signs and magnitudes of KI, KII, KIII and T are significantly dependent on the location of the vehicle wheels with respect to the crack plane. The magnitude of T-stress is considerable, if compared to the stress intensity factors, when one of the wheels is very close to the crack plane.