Study on the Treatment of Cracks in the Base Course of Coastal Expressways Based on the Principle of Fracture Mechanics

Yang, Q.G.; Ning, J.C.; Yang, Y.F., and Li, Y., 2020. Study on the treatment of cracks in the base course of coastal expressways based on the principle of fracture mechanics. In: Al-Tarawneh, O. and Megahed, A. (eds.), Recent Developments of Port, Marine, and Ocean Engineering. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 110, pp. 29–33. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.During the construction of a highway in the coastal area of Guangxi, China, longitudinal and transverse cracks appeared in the cement stabilized macadam base. On-site comprehensive analysis shows that the road bed filler has weak expansibility and expands after rainfall, thus causing cracks in the base layer. It is difficult to eradicate the cracks in the base layer by the existing treatment methods for cracks in the base layer, and the further development of cracks will endanger the upper layer of the pavement. Based on the principle of crack propagation and crack resistance, a crack treatment method combining crack resistance, waterproofing and structural function is proposed: A water-impermeable film is set at the top crack surface to block the external water source. The film has sufficient fracture toughness to resist the forward extension of the crack tip and can also strengthen the interface bond to restore the overall performance of the pavement structure. After the implementation of the crack treatment method, the corresponding problems can be effectively solved. This treatment method can be of great reference to the relevant problems of crack treatment.