Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation
The occurrence of top-down (TD) cracking has gradually become a prevalent issue in semi-rigid base asphalt pavements after prolonged service. A coupled simulation model integrating the finite difference method (FDM) and discrete element method (DEM) was employed to investigate the mechanical behavio...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Road Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2097049825000083 |
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| author | Min Wang Xin Yu Chen Chen |
| author_facet | Min Wang Xin Yu Chen Chen |
| author_sort | Min Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The occurrence of top-down (TD) cracking has gradually become a prevalent issue in semi-rigid base asphalt pavements after prolonged service. A coupled simulation model integrating the finite difference method (FDM) and discrete element method (DEM) was employed to investigate the mechanical behavior of asphalt pavement containing a pre-existing TD crack. The mesoscopic parameters of the model were calibrated based on the mixture modulus and the static mechanical response on the MLS66 test road. Finally, an analysis was performed to assess how variations in TD crack depth and longitudinal length affect the distribution patterns of transverse tensile stress, vertical shear stress, and vertical compressive stress. The results indicate that the vertical propagation of TD crack significantly increases both the tensile stress value and range on the middle surface, while the longitudinal development of TD crack has minimal impact. This phenomenon may result in more severe fatigue failure on the middle surface. With the vertical and longitudinal development of TD crack, the vertical shear stress and compressive stress show obvious ''two-stage'' characteristics. When the crack's vertical length reaches 40 mm, there is a sharp increase in stress on the upper surface. As the crack continues to propagate vertically, the growth of stress on the upper surface becomes negligible, while the stress in the middle and lower layers increased significantly. Conversely, for longitudinal development of TD crack, any changes in stress are insignificant when their length is less than 180 mm; however, as they continue to develop longitudinally beyond this threshold, there is a sharp increase in stress levels. These findings hold great significance for understanding pavement structure deterioration and maintenance behavior associated with TD crack. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6620e1793b9f4e68aae3a67adb621e53 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2773-0077 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Road Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-6620e1793b9f4e68aae3a67adb621e532025-08-20T02:49:25ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Road Engineering2773-00772025-03-01519210510.1016/j.jreng.2024.07.004Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulationMin Wang0Xin Yu1Chen Chen2College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; National Engineering Research Center of Highway Maintenance Technology, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; Corresponding author. College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.College of Water Conservancy & Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; National Engineering Research Center of Highway Maintenance Technology, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaThe occurrence of top-down (TD) cracking has gradually become a prevalent issue in semi-rigid base asphalt pavements after prolonged service. A coupled simulation model integrating the finite difference method (FDM) and discrete element method (DEM) was employed to investigate the mechanical behavior of asphalt pavement containing a pre-existing TD crack. The mesoscopic parameters of the model were calibrated based on the mixture modulus and the static mechanical response on the MLS66 test road. Finally, an analysis was performed to assess how variations in TD crack depth and longitudinal length affect the distribution patterns of transverse tensile stress, vertical shear stress, and vertical compressive stress. The results indicate that the vertical propagation of TD crack significantly increases both the tensile stress value and range on the middle surface, while the longitudinal development of TD crack has minimal impact. This phenomenon may result in more severe fatigue failure on the middle surface. With the vertical and longitudinal development of TD crack, the vertical shear stress and compressive stress show obvious ''two-stage'' characteristics. When the crack's vertical length reaches 40 mm, there is a sharp increase in stress on the upper surface. As the crack continues to propagate vertically, the growth of stress on the upper surface becomes negligible, while the stress in the middle and lower layers increased significantly. Conversely, for longitudinal development of TD crack, any changes in stress are insignificant when their length is less than 180 mm; however, as they continue to develop longitudinally beyond this threshold, there is a sharp increase in stress levels. These findings hold great significance for understanding pavement structure deterioration and maintenance behavior associated with TD crack.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2097049825000083Full-scale pavement structureTop-down crackFDM-DEM coupling modelMechanical response |
| spellingShingle | Min Wang Xin Yu Chen Chen Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation Journal of Road Engineering Full-scale pavement structure Top-down crack FDM-DEM coupling model Mechanical response |
| title | Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation |
| title_full | Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation |
| title_short | Mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top-down crack based on FDM-DEM coupling simulation |
| title_sort | mechanical response analysis of asphalt pavement considering top down crack based on fdm dem coupling simulation |
| topic | Full-scale pavement structure Top-down crack FDM-DEM coupling model Mechanical response |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2097049825000083 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT minwang mechanicalresponseanalysisofasphaltpavementconsideringtopdowncrackbasedonfdmdemcouplingsimulation AT xinyu mechanicalresponseanalysisofasphaltpavementconsideringtopdowncrackbasedonfdmdemcouplingsimulation AT chenchen mechanicalresponseanalysisofasphaltpavementconsideringtopdowncrackbasedonfdmdemcouplingsimulation |