Principal Investigator(s):
Mihai Marasteanu, Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Co-Investigators:
-
Andrew Drescher, Former Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
-
Bruce Horan, Former University Researcher, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
-
David Newcomb, Former University Researcher, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
-
Vaughan Voller, Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Project summary:
Low temperature cracking is characterized by intermittent transverse cracks often extending across the full width of the pavement. There is mounting evidence that transverse cracks tend to act as focal points for fatigue cracking and the transfer of fines through cracks by pumping from the underlying base course. Low temperature cracks are also known to cause reflection cracking in asphalt overlays. Currently there is a strong need to develop performance criteria that can be used to minimize the occurrence of low temperature cracking. Such performance criteria need to account for the interplay between environmental factors, stresses and strains in an asphalt surface layer, and asphalt concrete mix design The purpose of this project is to develop performance criteria that can be used to minimize the occurrence of low temperature cracking of asphalt concrete pavements in Minnesota. These performance criteria will be tested and calibrated with actual field data from the MN/ROAD site.