Patent ID: 9091027
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: E01C,G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-based method of predicting roadway failure under loads applied to an asphalt surface of a roadway by vehicles, comprising: inputting into a graphical user interface one or more values relating to vehicular forces applied to an asphalt surface of a roadway; determining macroscale stresses resulting from the vehicular forces throughout a volume below the asphalt surface, wherein the volume comprises a plurality of layers, wherein determining macroscale stresses comprises: determining a microscale fracture process due to the macroscale stresses, wherein the microscale fracture process is expressed in terms of a set of microscale fracture parameters, the set of microscale fracture parameters comprising a damage parameter defined in the cohesive zone ahead of crack tips, wherein determining the microscale fracture process comprises determining: wherein the stress filed on a length scale associated with a local mesh determines the stresses at locations on the length scale associated with the global mesh, and the values of the damage parameter over the local scale mesh describes the fracture process within the local scale mesh; wherein the microscale fracture process is predictive of roadway failure.