PROCEDURE FOR PREDICTING OCCURRENCE AND SPACING OF THERMAL-SUSCEPTIBILITY CRACKING IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS.
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This paper presents the results of a study that attempted to quantify the mechanism of cracking and to predict crack spacings and the rate of crack appearance. The procedure used involves the combination of linear viscoelasticity and linear viscoelastic fracture mechanics. Crack spacings in the base course are calculated by using the results of a finite-element study of the frozen properties of the base course. The effect of these cracks (i. e. , the rate at which they propagate reflection cracks through the asphalt surface layer) is determined by using a fracture mechanics approach. Intensity factors are calculated for the viscoelastic thermal stress in the asphalt caused by a temperature cycle and for the stress caused by the deformation of a crack in the base course caused by a freeze.