SIMPLIFIED MODELS FOR ESTIMATING STRESSES AND STRAINS IN PAVEMENTS ON CONCRETE AND STEEL BRIDGES

The lack of consideration given both to the structural behavior of the bridge and the stiffness of pavement and waterproofing might bring less accurate estimations of stresses and strains in pavements on bridges. In this respect, three-dimensional finite-element models (3DFEM) representing the full-scale bridge might be used for the structural analysis of pavements. Then the computed stresses and strains may subsequently be used in distress models to assess the damage accumulated over time. The distress models on bridges are more especially fatigue cracking that begins at the bottom of asphalt pavement, which is caused by the positive bending moments, and fatigue cracking that initiates at the top of asphalt pavement produced by the negative bending moments, as well as rutting and thermal cracking. The present paper is organized as follows: the next section contains the description of the simplified model of pavements on concrete bridges; while the subsequent sections deal with its validity field. Then the small-scale bridge model of pavements on steel bridges is presented and its validation is commented. Finally the conclusions and addresses for further research are made.