Viscoelastic finite element modeling of flexible pavement patching

Flexible pavement patching is a large operation which ranges from temporary repair of small potholes to large full depth patches. The objective of this study was to model viscoelastic properties of existing pavements and patching materials to determine the effect of patching area shape and material on pavement response using finite element modeling. Two models were generated, a single layer static model and a two-layer dynamic model. The results implied significance of patching and revealed local stress concentrations caused by geometric shape. The models also revealed that a larger patching area resulted in less influence of the shape of the area, while a circular area proved better for sizes similar to the tire footprint and smaller. Finally, different patching materials were modeled to assess the effect of material on stresses and strains. This verified the importance of viscoelastic models and indicated that viscoelastic materials can be superior to elastic materials.