A model for pavement temperature prediction

A finite element model has been developed to calculate the temperature of a pavement located in the Northeast of Portugal. The goal of the case study presented in this paper is the validation of this model. Input data to the model are the hourly values for solar radiation and temperature, and mean daily values of wind speed obtained from a meteorological station. The thermal response of a multilayered pavement structure is modeled using a transient thermal analysis for four months time-period (December 2003 - April 2004) and the analysis was initiated with the full depth constant initial temperature obtained from field measurements. During these four months, pavement temperature was measured at a new pavement section, located at IP4 main road, near Bragança, in the north of Portugal. At that location, seven thermocouples were installed in the AC layers, at seven different depths. These pavement data was used to validate this simulation model, by comparing model calculated data with measured pavement temperatures. As conclusion, the 3-D finite-element analysis proved to be an interesting tool to simulate the transient behavior of asphalt concrete pavements. The suggested simulation model can predict the pavement temperature at different levels of bituminous layers with a good accuracy.Instituto de Estradas de Portugal, Direcção de Bragança