Physical Research on Flexible Pavement Materials and Construction Methods: Fid-Bau Portal

Physical Research on Flexible Pavement Materials and Construction Methods

F. J. McGarry

The central purpose of this research program was to enhance the understanding of layered pavements composed of bituminous materials. To realize this purpose, the program was divided into three related components or topics. The first of these treated the effects which asphalt viscosity exerts on the behavior of compacted bituminous mixtures. The second was concerned with basic properties of the asphalt material itself, especially as related to adhesion phenomena. The third component, essentially though not exclusively analytical in character, concentrated upon the structural behavior of layered systems, seeking to establish the stresses and deformations resulting from loads imposed upon typical pavement configurations. Also as part of this component, a design method for layered pavements was developed for use in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, derived from the results of the AASHO test road experiment. The work in each of these three topic areas is summarized and the principal results identified. More detailed information is available in the thirteen research reports issued during the program. (Author)