Mapping Interfacial Stress Distributions to Digital Surface Micro-topography

The ability to characterise highway surfacing textures is essential to better understanding their performance. Traditional volumetric methods such as sand patch produce data based on estimation of a single geometry and offer little insight to early life deformations of bitumen coatings, changes in aggregate shape or longer term performance of the asphalt. Durability of an asphalt surfacing is a function of its ability to withstand static and dynamic contact stresses applied during its life. This paper reports the initial findings of a study into the use of stress mapping based on digital models of real surfaces. These are manipulated using ArcGIS to form a spatial framework for analysing surface textures. Initial results suggest that this methodology offers improved understanding of tyre / surface interaction. This approach has potentially wide ranging application in understanding the mechanics of in-situ wear and the design of more durable asphalt surfacing materials.