Influência da variação da umidade no comportamento de pavimentos da região metropolitana de Fortaleza

Abstract

Several factors may influence the resilient behavior of granular materials, among which it is worth mentioning the moisture content. The moisture variation depends on the environmental conditions to which the pavements will be subjected in the field (infiltration of rainwater through the cracks of the pavement or shoulders, groundwater level variation, moisture transfer between layers due to temperature variations, etc.). It is well known that seasonal climatic changes can affect the performance of the pavement. Thus, it is important to choose local materials that better resist such changes. In an attempt to analyze a pavement that best suits regional characteristics, this study aims to evaluate the effects of soil moisture variation in the analysis of pavements in the light of empirical and mechanistic-empirical design methods. Numerical analyses were performed (through the programs CAP3D and SisPav) to determine stresses and displacements on asphalt pavements with different soil layers moisture contents. For the experimental program, different soils were collected in the city of Caucaia, located in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, which were subjected to the following laboratory tests: compaction, CBR (California Bearing Ratio) and MR (Resilient Modulus). CBR was conducted in different conditions of saturation. On the other hand, resilient moduli were evaluated in the compaction and post-compaction humidities. Using the results of laboratory tests, numerical analyses were performed to obtain stresses and displacements on asphalt pavements. The results show that MR values are more sensitive to variation of the moisture content in the case of subgrade soils than for those soils of deposits. The studies also show that the variation of moisture affects the results of vertical displacements, as well as horizontal and vertical stresses. It was found that the variation of ± 2%, in absolute terms around the optimum moisture normally accepted for soil compaction in the field, may represent significant variations in the design of flexible pavements. It was also observed that slender structures are obtained when considering materials 2% below the optimum moisture content in compaction and in post-compaction cases. But this practice should not be encouraged, because if moisture increases the pavement will probably be damaged.