A cumulative damage model for predicting and assessing raveling in asphalt pavement using an energy dissipation approach

Raveling is a common distress of asphalt pavements, defined as the removal of stones from the pavement surface. To predict and assess raveling quantitatively, a cumulative damage model based on an energy dissipation approach has been developed at the meso level. To construct the model, a new test method, the pendulum impact test, was employed to determine the fracture energy of the stone-mastic-stone meso-unit, while digital image analysis and dynamic shear rheometer test were used to acquire the strain rate of specimens and the rheology property of mastic, respectively. Analysis of the model reveals that when the material properties remain constant, the cumulative damage is directly correlated with loading time, loading amplitude, and loading frequency. Specifically, damage increases with superimposed linear and cosine variations over time. A higher stress amplitude results in a more rapidly increasing rate of damage, while a lower load frequency leads to more severe damage within the same loading time. Moreover, an example of the application of the model has been presented, showing that the model can be utilized to estimate failure life due to raveling. The model is able to offer a theoretical foundation for the design and maintenance of anti-raveling asphalt pavements.