Evaluation of reflective cracking under dynamic loads interposing geosynthetic materials at different levels of the asphalt reinforcement layer

Abstract

Load demands on pavements, due to repeated vehicle loads and environmental conditions, generate a constant deterioration of the structure, which causes the loss of mechanical properties, thereby producing a structural and functional loss on the road. Nowadays, one of the most common problem, which is difficult to control due to these load demands, is reflective cracking, a phenomenon that explains the propagation of existing cracks in lower layers or coinciding with joint movements of an aged pavement, towards the new reinforcement layer, which copies the pathology of the same. The study evaluates the behavior of reflective cracking while varying the location of the geosynthetic material between each asphalt mix layer, and subjecting the system to dynamic loading. The geosynthetic reinforcement considerably delays the progression of the crack, and the greatest effectiveness is obtained when this material is located nearest to the most stressed fiber of the reinforcement layer.