Structural layer applicability of semi-flexible material for rutting resistance: A coupled temperature-mechanical approach

Semi-flexible material (SFM) is produced by pouring cement grouting material into the asphalt concrete skeleton. It exhibits both characteristics of cement and asphalt, increasing structural stiffness and reducing rutting. Extensive studies have shown that the temperature load coupling effect is one of the leading causes of road rutting. However, few researchers focused on the anti-rutting impact and structural layer applicability of SFM under this effect. Thus, a coupled temperature-mechanical approach was developed based on the finite element (FE) method to simulate the rutting of SFM at different pavement layers and times of the day. During simulation, both standard load and overload were applied to the FE model of pavement. Asphalt mixture and SFM specimens were prepared for essential road performance and dynamic modulus testing. The mechanical properties of SFM and asphalt mixtures at different temperatures were obtained based on the measured data. The structural layer applicability of SFM was revealed by simulating the response of the pavement structure under the combined action of temperature and load. An accelerated pavement test (APT) based validation indicated that the simulation results were accurate. The results show that traditional asphalt pavement and pavement with SFM at the surface and bottom layers tend to exhibit dilative heave adjacent to the wheel load. Using SFM at the middle layer shows a compacted rutting mode, and the pavement has a minimum rise of 51% in rutting depth under the double overloading compared with the pavements with SFM in other layers. It implies that using SFM in the middle layer gives optimal resistance to overload. Considering the depth, form, and resistance of rutting, the SFM in the middle layer of pavement can functionally exert its anti-rutting characteristic.