Abstract
The behaviour of pavement structures with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) sub-base and a relatively thin asphalt top layer due to a 50-kN falling weight load is analyzed by means of a three-dimensional finite element model with a single vertical interface layer. The position of the vertical interface layer was chosen next to the loading area. In this way, an open joint between the EPS blocks at the most critical position with respect to the loading area can be modelled, and the effect of such a joint on the structural pavement behaviour can be determined. Calculations have been carried out for pavement structures with only unbound base layers on the top of the EPS sub-base and for pavements with a cement-treated load-spreading layer above the EPS. Finally, the calculated deformations, asphalt strains and vertical stresses in the EPS subbase are presented.
| Original language | British English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-38 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Geotextiles and Geomembranes |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1997 |