Optimization of inverted base pavement designs with thin asphalt surfacing

Inverted base pavements offer potential structural and economic benefits when compared with conventional flexible pavements. They have been used in countries where the price of asphalt and concrete is high and have performed satisfactorily for all traffic volumes. Inverted base pavements can be built using conventional techniques, by placing a well compacted graded aggregate base layer between a thin asphalt concrete layer and a cement-treated subbase. The proximity of the graded aggregate base layer to the load makes its behavior critical to the performance of the pavement structure. In this study we investigate the potential of implementing inverted base pavements as a design alternative in the United States. Using a three-dimensional finite element model developed in ABAQUS, along with a user-defined constitutive model to simulate the resilient behavior of the graded aggregate base, we conduct numerical simulations to explore the effect of various design parameters in pavement response.