Summarizing a report about "Thermal cracking of pavement", I couldn't fine Civil Eng. Field so I chose applied science!
Thermal cracking analysis
• Thermal cracking definition
Thermal cracking on flexible pavements poses serious concerns in cold-regions of the world, especially in Canada. Influenced by temperature changes, thermal cracks are known to initiate other forms of pavement deterioration. Thermal cracking is attributed to the development of high tensile stresses under repetitive exposures to extremely low temperatures or moderate daily temperature cycles otherwise referred to as thermal fatigue cracking. Furthermore, the mechanisms of low temperature cracking develop as As the temperature drops to an extremely cold level, tensile stresses induce the formation of low temperature cracking due to the pavement's tendency to contract. The development of tensile stresses in AC pavements occurs as a result of the friction between the pavement and the base course layer that resists the contraction. A microcrack would develop at the edge and surface of the pavement if the tensile stress induced in the pavement equals the strength of the AC mix. The crack would eventually penetrate the full depth and across the AC layer under repeated temperature cycles or the occurrence of colder temperatures. According to field observations, it has been shown that the cracks start at the surface and progress down through the entire pavement. Provided that the coefficient of contraction of the stabilized layer is greater than that of the AC layer, it may be possible for a thermal crack to reflect up through the AC layer from an underlying stabilized layer (p.6-7).
1. Determining the need for crack treatment.
2. Planning and designing the crack treatment project.
3. Construction.
4. Evaluating and assessing the performance of the crack treatment.
Attachment:- Thermal_Cracking_Analysis.rar