Effects of Vehicle Speed on Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Mixtures and Pavement Responses

Effects of vehicle speed on material properties of asphalt pavement and structure responses are analyzed quantitatively using dynamic modulus master curves and time-temperature shift factors of asphalt mixtures are obtained from laboratory tests,along with pavement temperature data measured in the field.The results indicate that when vehicle speed increases from 10 km/h to 130 km/h,dynamic modulus in the pavement could increase by 12 times,and critical pavement responses such as surface deflection,tension strain at the bottom of asphalt layer,and compressive strain at the top of subgrade could increase by more than 20%.The increasing magnitudes of the material properties and pavement responses are different in winter and summer.This study suggests that vehicle speed should be taken into consideration in asphalt pavement analysis and design.