Effect of fiber grid reinforcement on crack initiation and propagation in asphalt concrete

Abstract

A mechanism to explain the local contribution of fiber grid reinforcements to reduce tensile crack initiation and its propagation is proposed. In the first part, a local model of quasi-brittle rupture based on the fracture mechanics background is presented. This model is then compared to experimental results and predictions of the literature of V-notched samples in tension. In the second part, the effect of fiber grids as boundary reinforcements of the asphalt concrete layer is then analyzed under constant strain conditions. This study shows an improvement of the local performance against the propagation of cracks crossing the grid. The obtained results also indicate that the contribution of the fiber grid reinforcement depends on the stiffness ratio of the reinforcement and the asphalt and increases for higher quantities of fiber (per unity of length). However, this increase is bounded, which may define a limit quantity of fibers to be employed in practice.