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Influence of cracks on the mechanical response of structural layers of asphalt pavements using the discrete element method

Guofang Zhao, Yadong Liu, Xiaoyong Wu, Zhanyou Yan and Xiangyang Lv

Vol. 20 (2025), No. 3, 269–288
DOI: 10.2140/jomms.2025.20.269
Abstract

Asphalt concrete is the main type of pavement used on expressways. After long-term use, fine cracks inevitably occur inside the pavement, significantly impacting its performance and service life. To investigate the mechanical response of asphalt concrete pavements with initial defects under vehicle-road coupling, a microscale, multilayer subgrade pavement model was constructed using the discrete element method. After comparing the uniaxial compression experiment data for each structural layer in the model with actual experimental data under the same working conditions, the mesoscopic parameters for each pavement structural layer were obtained through continuous iterative calculations. These parameters were used to create a discrete element model of the multilayer subgrade and pavement. In the discrete element model, a constant load travelling at a constant speed was used for the calculation, and a discrete fracture network (DFN) was used to characterize the initial defects in the pavement. The response of initial defects to the structural layers of asphalt pavements was studied by altering the number of microcracks in the upper and lower layers.

Summary of results: The number of microcracks in the pavement significantly influenced the peak stress value. Compared to pavements without cracks, the vertical stress of each structural layer was reduced by 8% to 10%, the horizontal stress by 9% to 12% and the tangential stress by 5% to 8%. The greater the number of microcracks in the upper layer when mobile loads are applied, the smaller the vertical/horizontal stress response of the lower layer would be. When there were 200–400 microcracks in the upper layer (positioned at 1,000 microcracks in the lower layer), the horizontal stress in the upper layer decreased by 26%, as did the shear stress by 9.5%. Microcracks significantly impacted the response of asphalt concrete pavements to vehicle-road coupling.

Keywords
microcracks, mechanical response, discrete element model, vehicle-road interaction, stress
Milestones
Received: 28 February 2025
Revised: 26 May 2025
Accepted: 27 June 2025
Published: 2 September 2025
Authors
Guofang Zhao
Hebei Vocational University of Industry and Technology
Shijiazhuang, 050091
China
Yadong Liu
Handan Transportation Construction Investment Management Center
Handan, 056002
China
Xiaoyong Wu
Shijiazhuang Fangzhou Highway Engineering Experiment and Testing Co., Ltd
Shijiazhuang, 050080
China
Zhanyou Yan
Shijiazhuang Tiedao University
Shijiazhuang, 050043
China
Xiangyang Lv
Hebei Vocational University of Industry and Technology
Shijiazhuang, 050091
China