Abstract

The theory of grey relational grade was applied to calculate the relational grades between the maximum dry shrinkage strain and some evaluation indices of cracking resistance to dry shrinkage, and the relational grades between the maximum thermal shrinkage strain and some evaluation indices of cracking resistance to thermal shrinkage. The study results indicate that the relation between dry shrinkage energy anti-cracking coefficient and the maximum dry shrinkage strain and the relation between thermal shrinkage energy anti-cracking coefficient and the maximum thermal shrinkage strain of base materials are much better. This paper also draws a conclusion that it is more reasonable to evaluate the anti-cracking performance of semi-rigid base courses adopting dry shrinkage energy anti-cracking coefficient and thermal shrinkage energy anti-cracking coefficient. The conclusion has great direction on the design of bituminous pavements with semi-rigid base courses, and the results also indicate that grey relational analysis is a simple and effective method in the evaluation of anti-cracking performance of semi-rigid base course materials.

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