A method for predicting deformation in the bound layers of a road is described. The method is based on an analysis of the viscous behaviour of the pavement structure, the viscous properties of the bituminous layers being derived from a uniaxial creep test. Under loading conditions ranging from a simple wheel tracking test to the complex situation encountered in practice, the viscous method was able to predict the deformation of bituminous layers to within 30 per cent. The predicted distribution of deformation within the pavement was in good agreement with observed behaviour; a method based on multi-layer elastic theory did not perform as well in this respect. This confirms that the viscous analysis is the more appropriate for predicting deformation in bituminous pavement layers. (Author/publisher)
Abstract