Viscoelastic analysis of hot mix asphalt pavement structures

A new method of analysis for mechanistic pavement design has been developed based on improved material characteristics, which more accurately reflects fatigue cracking and permanent deformation performance. The key components of the method involve the (a) dissipated energy fatigue criterion in which the cumulative energy dissipated in asphaltic materials is directly proportional to fatigue damage, (b) visco-elastic materials characterization, and (c) pavement analysis using the finite-element method for determining response to repeated wheel loading. The changing properties of asphaltic materials with temperature are a key feature of the procedure with temperature conditions being provided by using a heat flow model. Output of the program includes predictions of percentage fatigue damage and rut depth at various numbers of load applications.