ABSTRACT

Series of potholes were observed to occur suddenly in Asphalt Concrete (AC) pavements during recent winters characterized by successive events of rain and freeze. A specific mechanism related to the AC behavior containing water under freezing conditions is believed to be responsible for the onset of these disorders. Then, two types of experimental tests were carried out to investigate the behavior of AC partially saturated with water and subject to temperature variations below zero degrees Celsius. These were performed under traction free condition and under zero displacement condition, respectively. Strain was measured during the temperature decrease. The test results show the existence of swelling strain or induced stress due to the phase change of water from liquid to solid. The experimental results are presented in this paper and the tests are modeled by using a thermo-viscoelastic constitutive law with an additional swelling strain.