UCD School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

Pavements

Predicting Pavement Damage from Traffic Loading

It is well known that pavements undergo permanent deformation due to traffic loading. It is also known that the pattern of force applied to a particular stretch of pavement is repeatable. UCD have now developed a technique to predict these repeatable patterns of forces and are now developing a highly accurate prediction of the time-to-failure of a pavement.

Figure: Impact factor (force) v's distance: known and predicted interval

Contact: eugene.obrien@ucd.ie

Performance modelling of pavements incorporating recycled asphalt

The aim of the project is to develop numerical tools that can be used to design pavements made using recycled materials; these tools will be used to predict pavement life as well as sensitivity to damage. To achieve this it is important that the mechanical behaviour (particularly elastic, viscoplastic and viscoelastic deformation, fatigue resistance) is understood. This project proposes to investigate the influence of these parameters on asphalt models, and to develop appropriate test methods for validation of these models.

Client: European Commission Re-Road Project

Contact: ciaran.mcnally@ucd.ie