Analysis of equivalent temperature to design of asphalt pavements in Poland using the AASHTO 2004 method

Abstract

Abstract: The paper presents the analysis of the equivalent temperature on the basis of the fatigue cracking criterion of asphalt layers according to the AASHTO 2004 method and the structural deformation of subgrade criterion according to the Asphalt Institute procedure. The calculations were made with application of the KR5 pavement structure and temperature data obtained from 50 meteorological stations and from the period of 30 years from 1989 to 2019, provided by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. The influence of variable traffic with heavy vehicle traffic was taken into consideration, both during the day and throughout the year. It was presented how the values of the equivalent temperature change in the territory of Poland depending on the location of the meteorological station. The computational analysis showed the variability of the equivalent temperature on the territory of Poland in the range from 14.68°C (Suwalki) to 16.99°C (Tarnow).The weighted mean value of the equivalent temperature for the entire year is 16.01°C and it is higher than the value adopted in the catalogue of typical flexible and semi-rigid structures that is equal to 13,00°C. The change in the equivalent temperature value on the designed thickness of asphalt layers of the pavement structure has been also assessed in the paper. Keywords: Pavement design; Equivalent temperature; Fatigue life; AASHTO 2004 method