Multilayered elastic medium reinforced with interfacial thin film: A theoretical model for geogrid reinforced HIR asphalt pavement.

Aiming at modeling the reinforcement behavior of geogrid reinforced HIR asphalt pavement structure accurately and efficiently, a mathematical formulation using the Generalized Kelvin Solution (GKS) based method for multi-layer three-dimensional elastic system with the consideration of elastic membrane without thickness is put forward in this thesis to simulate the geogrid reinforcement for HIR pavement. Solutions in transform and physical domain, solutions for z = 0, and specific solutions of surface displacements are determined. Four special cases including homogeneous half space with buried and surface thin film reinforcement, Boussinesq's solution, unreinforced multilayered half space are introduced to validate the solution. Moreover, the mechanical effect of geogrid on the deformation, stress state and fatigue life of the pavement structure is investigated using the proposed model and solution. The geogrid stiffness has significant effect on the vertical and radial strain. After the reinforcement, both the radial stress and hoop stress near the interface reduce to a very low level, the stress concentration is effectively alleviated. Meanwhile, geogrid reinforcement plays a positive role on enhancing the fatigue damage resistance of pavement stricture Our proposed method provides a novel way to model reinforcement mechanism of the geogrid on pavement structure, which is helpful to engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]