TY - JOUR
T1 - Field investigation and numerical analysis of an inverted pavement system in Tennessee, USA
AU - Jiang, Xi
AU - Gabrielson, Jay
AU - Titi, Hani
AU - Huang, Baoshan
AU - Bai, Yun
AU - Polaczyk, Pawel
AU - Hu, Wei
AU - Zhang, Miaomiao
AU - Xiao, Rui
N1 - Funding Information:
The research presented here is funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The authors would like to thank Vulcan Materials Company, Knoxville, TN. Technical support from Dr. Howard Cyr from the University of Tennessee’s Archaeological Research Laboratory (ARL) and Dr. Shuai Li from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville is also greatly appreciated.
Funding Information:
The research presented here is funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The authors would like to thank Vulcan Materials Company, Knoxville, TN. Technical support from Dr. Howard Cyr from the University of Tennessee's Archaeological Research Laboratory (ARL) and Dr. Shuai Li from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville is also greatly appreciated.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - Inverted pavement system has been introduced for many years with field investigations, laboratory studies and numerical simulation works. Field investigations of inverted pavement structures have not been widely conducted and are very limited in the USA. This study presents a comprehensive field study on a full-scale inverted pavement as well as a conventional control pavement section constructed in Tennessee, USA. A combination of multiple non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, including ground penetration radar (GPR), Benkelman beam test, 3D road profiling test by laser crack measurement system (LCMS), and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests were utilized to assess the actual thickness, structural capacity and surface conditions of the pavement structures. The road surface profiling test results showed that the inverted pavement outperformed the conventional section in roughness, cracking and rutting conditions. Deflection Basin Parameters (DBPs) such as surface curvature index (SCI), base damage index (BDI), base curvature index (BCI) and W7 (7th sensor's value of FWD) values were compared to study the layers’ condition of the inverted and conventional pavement sections. In addition, a preliminary simulation analysis by a Finite Element Method (FEM) model was conducted to compare the performance of inverted and conventional pavement sections under FWD load. The simulation results showed that the inverted pavement structure could reduce the potential of crack initiation and propagation due to smaller tensile stress at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer (AC). Also, the smaller deflection was measured at the top of subgrade soil (SG), which reduced the total deflection of the inverted pavement structure. Furthermore, the cement-treated base (CTB)-constrained unbound aggregate base (UAB) acted as a cushion to relieve the tension from CTB and support the AC layer. The stress-dependent property of UAB in the inverted pavement contributed to the performance and ductility of inverted pavement but had little influence on the conventional pavement.
AB - Inverted pavement system has been introduced for many years with field investigations, laboratory studies and numerical simulation works. Field investigations of inverted pavement structures have not been widely conducted and are very limited in the USA. This study presents a comprehensive field study on a full-scale inverted pavement as well as a conventional control pavement section constructed in Tennessee, USA. A combination of multiple non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, including ground penetration radar (GPR), Benkelman beam test, 3D road profiling test by laser crack measurement system (LCMS), and falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests were utilized to assess the actual thickness, structural capacity and surface conditions of the pavement structures. The road surface profiling test results showed that the inverted pavement outperformed the conventional section in roughness, cracking and rutting conditions. Deflection Basin Parameters (DBPs) such as surface curvature index (SCI), base damage index (BDI), base curvature index (BCI) and W7 (7th sensor's value of FWD) values were compared to study the layers’ condition of the inverted and conventional pavement sections. In addition, a preliminary simulation analysis by a Finite Element Method (FEM) model was conducted to compare the performance of inverted and conventional pavement sections under FWD load. The simulation results showed that the inverted pavement structure could reduce the potential of crack initiation and propagation due to smaller tensile stress at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer (AC). Also, the smaller deflection was measured at the top of subgrade soil (SG), which reduced the total deflection of the inverted pavement structure. Furthermore, the cement-treated base (CTB)-constrained unbound aggregate base (UAB) acted as a cushion to relieve the tension from CTB and support the AC layer. The stress-dependent property of UAB in the inverted pavement contributed to the performance and ductility of inverted pavement but had little influence on the conventional pavement.
KW - Field investigation
KW - Inverted pavement
KW - Numerical analysis
KW - Unbound aggregate base
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129370165&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100759
DO - 10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100759
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85129370165
SN - 2214-3912
VL - 35
JO - Transportation Geotechnics
JF - Transportation Geotechnics
M1 - 100759
ER -