Fatigue performance of geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt using DIC

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of geosynthetic reinforcement on the fatigue performance of asphalt overlays using double-layered specimens extracted from experimental sections. Notched beam fatigue tests were conducted, together with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique to assess the initiation and propagation of cracks, along with strains mobilized at the geosynthetic interface. The geosynthetic-reinforced specimen demonstrated notable improvement compared to the unreinforced counterpart in reducing vertical deformations with an increase in fatigue life by a factor of 7. DIC analysis demonstrated that geosynthetic reinforcement absorbed the tensile stresses from the crack tip and reduced the tensile strains, contributing to minimize the propagation of reflective cracks into the asphalt overlay. Overall, research findings contribute to understanding the factors that enhance fatigue life through the incorporation of geosynthetic reinforcements in asphalt overlays.