ABSTRACT
Reflective cracking has been one of the major causes of distress in asphalt-aggregate overlays. A new reflective cracking device (RCD) has been developed to operate within the shear testing system developed during the Strategic Highway Research Program. With this device it is possible to simultaneously simulate in the laboratory the Mode I (opening) and Mode II (shearing) fatigue failure patterns that have been observed in the load associated reflective fatigue cracking. Preliminary results obtained with the device indicate that it has been able to demonstrate that asphalt rubber mixes have greater resistance to reflective cracking than conventional dense graded mixes. Keywords: reflective cracking, shear device, asphalt rubber, fatigue, finite elements
The rehabilitation of PCC pavements with bituminous overlays has been a solution adopted worldwide [1]. However, design criteria, test methods and material properties are not readily available and in many cases the cracks propagate through the new overlay during the first few years of service. This mode of distress is traditionally referred to as "reflective cracking" and is a major concern to highway agencies.
