Experiment analysis: The relation between wave loading and resulting strain in an asphaltic concrete

Experiment analysis: The relation between wave loading and resulting strain in an asphaltic concrete

Davidse, M.P.

Vrijling, J.K. (mentor)
Verhagen, H.J. (mentor)
Van de Ven, M.F.C. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

2009-03-11

In the year 1991 the Technical Advisory Commission (TAW-A4) ordered a full scale investigation on wave impacts on an asphaltic concrete revetment. The goal of the experiment was to gain insight into the mechanisms which would lead to failure, cracking of the revetment. Also the behaviour of the revetment after failure (residual strength) was studied. To gain insight in the behaviour of the revetment, strain measuring devices and pressure transducers were placed into the revetment. The measured strains were compared with calculated strains by several researchers. One of the researchers concluded there was almost no resemblance between the measured and calculated strain and recommended to perform a sensitivity analysis on the calculations. This conclusion and recommendation is what resulted into the subject of the thesis. Due to extensive testing of materials in the last fifteen years a better understanding of material behaviour is achieved. This concerns in particular the modulus of elasticity of asphaltic concrete and the modulus of subgrade reaction. This knowledge is used in the thesis to get new results, by recalculation, from the same model. To perform a sensitivity analysis a stochastic simulation is used. A choice is made for using the Monte Carlo method for simulation of the strains and the results of the simulations are compared with the measured strains. The conclusions are divided into conclusions regarding the recalculation and conclusions regarding the Monte Carlo simulation. In the recalculation a better agreement between the measured and calculated strain is obtained. The model describes the calculated dynamic strain in a good way. This is also concluded by Ruygrok, one of the researchers who also investigated this Delta flume experiment. The simulated strains calculated with the Monte Carlo method are not in agreement with the measured strains. The difference between the calculation and the measurements are assigned to the differences between the quasi-static and the dynamic strain. Another reason for the differences is that the information of the wave impacts stored in the impact factor distribution cannot be divided into time and space, which leads to a too rough approach in the simulation.It is recommended to investigate the relation between the quasi-static or dynamic strain with the total strain. If the quasi-static strain adds extra damage to the revetment this part should be taken into account when a safety assessment is performed.

wave impact
asphaltic revetment
shock pressure
golfklap

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7f42f086-798b-410d-86bb-e709f784950d

TU Delft, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Hydraulic Engineering

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2009 Davidse, M.P.