ABSTRACT
Rutting is a consequence of plastic deformation and consolidation of pavement layers and subgrade. The prediction of rutting evolution is a complex problem, requiring detailed knowledge of materials state, elastic and plastic deformability and viscosity of pavement materials. Several thickness design methods are generally based on limiting the vertical compressive elastic strain or stress in the top of the subgrade. Such procedures assume that surface plastic deformation is mainly due to the subgrade and do not consider deformations in the pavement upper layers. This article presents and compares rutting evolution of asphalt mixes in cored specimens using a laboratory LCPC traffic simulator and in a full-scale test section loaded by a linear traffic simulator. This study is part of a comprehensive research carried out in Brazil aiming at investigating the performance of asphalt concrete with both conventional and polymer modified binders.
