FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF THIN ASPHALT CONCRETE LAYERS IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT STRUCTURES

The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of heavier axle loads and higher contact pressures on the fatigue life of pavement structures containing relatively thin layers of asphalt concrete. This assessment has been made assuming that the pavement responds to load as a layered elastic structure, although the results of research which recognizes the inherent nonlinear response characteristics of pavement materials has been utilized where appropriate. An attempt has also been made to define a fatigue damage relationship, which might be used for design and analysis purposes for such pavement structures. A review of some recent field and laboratory as well as analytical studies on the response of pavements containing thin asphalt layers is also included.