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Thesis defense of Marina AL BACHA

Marina AL BACHA, PhD student at Lames, Université Gustave Eiffel, will defend her thesis entitled

"Experimental study and modelling of the impact of road loads on the mechanical behavior of pavement surface layers"

on

tuesday november 26th 2024
at 9.00 AM at the amphitheatre of Université Gustave Eiffel, campus of Nantes (France)

Zoom link for those who wish to assist by video conference:
https://univ-eiffel.zoom.us/j/89579821934
Password : KnHW02i4

The thesis will be presented before the following jury:

Reporters :
Cédric SAUZEAT
Christiane RAAB

Professeur – ENTPE, Vaulx-en-Velin
Professeure – EMPA, Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
Examinators :
Cyrille CHAZALLON
Frédéric GRONDIN
Cyrile SOME

Professeur des Universités – INSA de Strasbourg
Professeur des Universités – Ecole Centrale de Nantes
Chercheur, HDR – CEREMA, Sourdun
Thesis director :
Pierre HORNYCH

Ingénieur Divisionnaire des TPE, HDR – Université Gustave Eiffel, Nantes
Supervisors :
Mai-Lan NGUYEN
Olivier CHUPIN

Chargé de recherche – Université Gustave Eiffel, Nantes
Chargé de recherche – Université Gustave Eiffel, Nantes

Abstract:

This PhD thesis focuses on the analysis and modelling of the behavior of pavement surface layers under traffic loads, with a particular emphasis on the effects of interface bonding conditions between layers. The study is part of the French National (ANR) project BINARY, and is based on the analysis of two full-scale pavement experiments carried out on the fatigue carrousel of Université Gustave Eiffel. These experiments consisted in testing new and rehabilitated pavement structures, under different axle loads and temperature conditions. The pavements were instrumented with strain gauges and optical fibers, a novel instrumentation technique allowing distributed strain measurements under moving loads. The results highlight the significant effect of interface bonding conditions on the performance of surface layers, and their evolution with traffic and temperature conditions.
Two modelling approaches were developed to predict the behavior of the experimental pavements, and in particular interface bonding condition. The first approach is based on the Viscoroute©2.0 software, simulating the interface as a thin elastic layer with an elastic modulus depending on temperature. The second approach is based on finite element analysis using FreeFem++, simulating the interface as a frictional surface governed by Coulomb’s friction law, with a temperature-independent friction angle. This second approach was introduced to improve modelling of damaged interfaces, presenting partial sliding. The manuscript also discusses the effect of tridem axles with wide-base tires on pavement damage. This research enhances the understanding of traffic-induced strain distribution in pavement surface layers and opens up perspectives for developing a more rational approach to pavement design in the future.

Keywords: surface layers, interface bonding, pavement modelling, tridem axle, fatigue testing.