The effect of interface bonding criterion on pavement design reinforcement

Abstract

The present paper deals with the effect of interlayer bonding conditions between Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and Cement Bound Material (CBM) layers on pavement design reinforcement in a case of a semi-flexible pavement. For this purpose a field experiment was conducted in a motorway by the Laboratory of Pavement Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) was applied using a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system in order to assess the existing pavement condition and take into account reasonable considerations towards the repair and upgrade of the existing motorway. The pavement analysis was conducted considering two approaches: (a) full-bonding and (b) no-bonding conditions between HMA and CBM layers. The overall investigation indicated that the differences between the two approaches range for the different cases of the new road elevation. Moreover elevation increase results in less significant differences between the two approaches. The related findings and results are displayed and discussed thoroughly.