Simulation of thermal shrinkage at low temperature and of transverse cracking of a high performance recycled pavement

In Canada, thermal contraction in pavement layers during winters often lead to severe transverse cracking. This article describes a numerical model intended to simulate the thermal cracking of semi-rigid pavements. Analyses were conducted on High Performance Recycled (HPR) pavements. The model allows to conduct a global analysis of the thermal cracking phenomena. Simulations show the importance of mechanical and thermal properties of the base course materials and of subgrade soils when they are frozen. The model also shows that there is a relationship between crack depth, crack opening and crack spacing.