Simulation of the conditions for a low-temperature crack appearance in the asphalt concrete layer of a road

Low-temperature cracks are formed in the upper layers of roads during freezing of the latter. The methods used for predicting the distance between cracks on the road surfaces are well known. However, the patterns of negative temperature influence on the distribution of tensile stresses in an asphalt concrete layer are still undefined.
The purpose of the work is to develop a mechanical and mathematical model of the conditions for the low-temperature cracks arising in the asphalt layer and to analyze the effect of subzero temperature on the distribution of both tensile forces in the asphalt layer and shear forces in the contact area between the layer and the base.
As a result, it is found that the distribution of tensile forces in the segment of asphalt concrete layer is described by a second order polynomial whose maximum is in the middle of the segment length. The maximum (critical) length of the segment without cracks is determined by means of tensile strength condition. It is revealed that the shear forces in the middle of the segment length are equal to zero and reach the highest absolute values in the vicinity of end faces of asphalt layer segment.
The adequacy of simulation results is confirmed by their consistency with experimental and theoretical data published by other authors.