Cracking is a major source of distress in hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. Various methods have been proposed to describe crack initiation and propagation in HMA. This paper evaluates a finite element analysis technique that uses embedded discontinuity method (EDM) to accommodate cracking. The purpose of this study is to identify the strengths and potential weaknesses of the technique and investigate if it is suitable for general crack simulation in HMA pavements. An alternative formulation of EDM is presented for easier understanding of the technique. Cohesive crack model is used to describe the HMA cracking characteristic. Numerical examples are presentedto demonstrate the ability of EDM to simulate uniaxial tension, three-point bending, and semi-circular beam bending tests. It is shown that EDM is very promising finite element analysis technique but needs additional research to make it more robust.
Samenvatting