Transverse joint faulting is a distress that develops in unbonded concrete overlays (UBOL). Historically, faulting models used for predicting the performance of a UBOL have not accounted for the effects of the interlayer between the overlay and the existing pavement on the development of faulting. This is a significant limitation since characteristics of the interlayer play a primary role in the rate at which faulting develops in UBOLs. To develop a more robust faulting prediction model for UBOLs, enhancements were made to the current process to address this limitation. This includes the use of a structural response model that can account for the effects of the interlayer properties on the response of the UBOL. Additional enhancements include the use of a deflection basin of the overlay (in lieu of corner deflections of an equivalent slab system for accumulating differential energy [DE]), the incorporation of an erosion model that can account for the erodibility of the interlayer material, the adjustment of the incremental faulting equations to accommodate small slab sizes that are common in UBOLs, and a national calibration using faulting data from in-service UBOLs. This enhanced faulting model has been implemented in the mechanistic-empirical design tool Pitt UBOL-ME.

横向接缝断层是在无粘结混凝土覆盖层 (UBOL) 中产生的一种困扰。从历史上看，用于预测 UBOL 性能的断层模型没有考虑覆盖层和现有路面之间的夹层对断层发展的影响。这是一个重要的限制，因为夹层的特性在 UBOL 中断层的发展速度中起着主要作用。为了开发更强大的 UBOL 故障预测模型，对当前流程进行了改进以解决此限制。这包括使用结构响应模型，该模型可以解释层间特性对 UBOL 响应的影响。其他增强功能包括使用覆盖层的偏转盆（代替等效板系统的角偏转以累积差分能量 [DE]），并入可以解释夹层材料可蚀性的侵蚀模型，调整增量断层方程以适应 UBOL 中常见的小板坯尺寸，以及使用来自在役 UBOL 的断层数据的国家校准。这种增强的断层模型已在机械经验设计工具 Pitt UBOL-ME 中实现。以及使用来自在役 UBOL 的故障数据进行的国家校准。这种增强的断层模型已在机械经验设计工具 Pitt UBOL-ME 中实现。以及使用来自在役 UBOL 的故障数据进行的国家校准。这种增强的断层模型已在机械经验设计工具 Pitt UBOL-ME 中实现。