Simulation of HVS Tests using CalME

Calibration of Reflection Cracking and Permanent Deformation Models for Overlays Using Heavy Vehicle Simulator Tests

Dynatest International, Naverland 32, Clostrup, DK 2600, DENMARK, Email: pullidtz@dynatest.com
University of California, Davis, California, USA, Email: jtharvey@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis, California, USA, Email: rzwu@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Davis, California, USA, Email: djjones@ucdavis.edu
University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, Email: clm@newton.berkeley.edu

| Abstract | Introduction | Simulation of HVS Tests using CalME | Reflection Cracking Model |
| Simulation of Pavement Response | Permanent Deformation | Cracking | Conclusion | Acknowledgement & References |


Conclusion

Although the original pavement was built to provide a uniform support for the rutting and the reflection cracking studies, the FWD tests and the forensic investigation showed that there were large variations over the length of the structure. The conditions of underlying structure, wheel loads and climate should be identical when ranking the different overlays. Because it was found that the permanent deformations and reflection cracking were predicted reasonably well with CalME it was possible to carry out a number of “virtual” HVS tests with identical conditions.

The rutting study was simulated using the rutting experiment with the highest number of load applications. The results are shown in Figure 8.


Figure 8: Rutting study simulated with identical underlying structure, loads and temperatures.

Several of the reflection cracking sections did not get any cracking during the “real” experiments, even though the traffic loading corresponded to up to about 100 MESAL (million ESAL) and lasted from 150 to 230 days. The “virtual” experiments were, therefore, done with about 500 MESAL.


Figure 9: Reflection cracking study with identical underlying structure, loads and temperatures.

If the overlay materials are ranked (1 being the best) according to the final condition from the “virtual” rutting and reflection cracking studies the results of Table 1 are obtained.

Table 1: Ranking according to “virtual” experiments

Before the models can be applied to the design of rehabilitation overlays a number of issues need to be addressed such as the influence of aging, seasonal variations, wheel speeds and rest periods, and variability of materials, structure, loads and climate, but the calibration using the HVS data reported in this paper is believed to provide a solid foundation for the ongoing calibration effort.

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