{"id":2460,"date":"2026-06-01T03:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T10:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/?page_id=2460"},"modified":"2026-06-07T12:29:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T19:29:55","slug":"design-model-for-reflection-cracking-in-airport-asphalt-overlays-phase-ii","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/projects\/design-model-for-reflection-cracking-in-airport-asphalt-overlays-phase-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Design Model for Reflection Cracking in Airport Asphalt Overlays (Phase II)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"uds-hero-md alignfull has-btn-row \" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--uds-size-8);\"><div class=\"hero-overlay\"><\/div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2024\/10\/ReflCracking_FAA.jpg\" class=\"hero\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2024\/10\/ReflCracking_FAA.jpg 400w, https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2024\/10\/ReflCracking_FAA-364x500.jpg 364w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color\"><span class=\"highlight-gold\"><strong>Design Model for Reflection Cracking in Airport Asphalt Overlays (Phase II)<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"is-style-lead has-white-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><mark style=\"background-color:#191919\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">\ud83d\udce8 Principal Investigator:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/search.asu.edu\/profile\/3503404\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/search.asu.edu\/profile\/3503404\">Hasan Ozer<\/a><br>\ud83d\udd16 Co-PI: Imad L. Al-Qadi, Carlos Armando Duarte<br>\ud83e\udd1d Sponsor:&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)<br>\ud83d\udcc5 Timeline:&nbsp;2025 &#8211; Ongoing<\/mark><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:4rem;margin-bottom:2rem\"><span class=\"highlight-black\">Highlights<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.hl-wrap{margin:20px 0;}\n.hl-box{border:1px solid #ddd;padding:24px 28px 20px;position:relative;}\n.hl-slide{position:absolute;inset:0;opacity:0;transition:opacity 0.8s ease;pointer-events:none;}\n.hl-slide.active{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto;position:relative;}\n.hl-track{position:relative;min-height:120px;}\n.hl-num{font-size:12px;letter-spacing:2px;color:#999;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:10px;}\n.hl-title{font-size:20px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1a1a;margin-bottom:10px;}\n.hl-text{font-size:16px;color:#444;line-height:1.7;}\n.hl-dots{display:flex;gap:6px;margin-top:16px;}\n.hl-dot{width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:#ccc;border:none;cursor:pointer;padding:0;transition:all 0.3s;}\n.hl-dot.active{background:#333;width:20px;border-radius:4px;}\n.hl-svg{position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;pointer-events:none;overflow:visible;}\n.hl-top{fill:none;stroke:rgb(255,198,39);stroke-width:3.5;stroke-linecap:round;}\n.hl-bot{fill:none;stroke:rgb(255,198,39);stroke-width:3.5;stroke-linecap:round;}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"hl-wrap\">\n  <div class=\"hl-box\" id=\"hlbox\">\n    <svg class=\"hl-svg\" id=\"hlsvg\">\n      <path class=\"hl-top\" id=\"hltop\"\/>\n      <path class=\"hl-bot\" id=\"hlbot\"\/>\n    <\/svg>\n\n    <div class=\"hl-slide active\">\n  <div class=\"hl-num\">01 \/ 03 \u2014 Objective<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-title\">Validated Transfer Functions for Mechanistic-Empirical Reflective Cracking Design<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-text\">Building on Phase I&#8217;s computational fracture framework, this study aims to develop validated and calibrated transfer functions that quantify reflective cracking severity and density in AC overlays, and integrate those functions into a full mechanistic-empirical (M-E) overlay design framework.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"hl-slide\">\n  <div class=\"hl-num\">02 \/ 03 \u2014 Preliminary Direction<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-title\">3-D Fracture Mechanics Combined with Empirical Transfer Functions and New Design Variables<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-text\">The M-E framework will combine 3-D fracture mechanics-based crack propagation calculations with empirical transfer functions calibrated against a new airport pavement performance database, incorporating AC-PCC interface debonding and joint load transfer efficiency as additional design variables not considered in Phase I.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"hl-slide\">\n  <div class=\"hl-num\">03 \/ 03 \u2014 Impact<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-title\">Complete Reflective Cracking Design Capability for FAARFIELD<\/div>\n  <div class=\"hl-text\">This research is expected to deliver the complete reflective cracking design capability for FAARFIELD, transforming how the FAA designs airport asphalt overlays on rigid pavements.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"hl-dots\">\n      <button class=\"hl-dot active\" onclick=\"hlGo(0)\"><\/button>\n      <button class=\"hl-dot\" onclick=\"hlGo(1)\"><\/button>\n      <button class=\"hl-dot\" onclick=\"hlGo(2)\"><\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\n(function(){\n  var slides=document.querySelectorAll('.hl-slide');\n  var dots=document.querySelectorAll('.hl-dot');\n  var box=document.getElementById('hlbox');\n  var top=document.getElementById('hltop');\n  var bot=document.getElementById('hlbot');\n  var cur=0,total=slides.length,dur=7000,start=null;\n\n  function setSize(){\n    var w=box.offsetWidth, h=box.offsetHeight;\n    var mx=0, my=h\/2; \/\/ start: left middle\n    var ex=w, ey=h\/2; \/\/ end: right middle\n\n    \/\/ top path: left-mid \u2192 top-left \u2192 top-right \u2192 right-mid\n    var topPath = \"M \"+mx+\",\"+my+\" L 0,0 L \"+w+\",0 L \"+ex+\",\"+ey;\n    \/\/ bottom path: left-mid \u2192 bottom-left \u2192 bottom-right \u2192 right-mid\n    var botPath = \"M \"+mx+\",\"+my+\" L 0,\"+h+\" L \"+w+\",\"+h+\" L \"+ex+\",\"+ey;\n\n    top.setAttribute('d', topPath);\n    bot.setAttribute('d', botPath);\n\n    \/\/ set dash to full length so we can animate\n    var tl = top.getTotalLength();\n    var bl = bot.getTotalLength();\n    top.style.strokeDasharray = tl;\n    top.style.strokeDashoffset = tl;\n    bot.style.strokeDasharray = bl;\n    bot.style.strokeDashoffset = bl;\n  }\n\n  function update(p){\n    var tl = top.getTotalLength();\n    var bl = bot.getTotalLength();\n    top.style.strokeDashoffset = tl*(1-p);\n    bot.style.strokeDashoffset = bl*(1-p);\n  }\n\n  function show(i){\n    slides[cur].classList.remove('active');\n    dots[cur].classList.remove('active');\n    cur=(i+total)%total;\n    slides[cur].classList.add('active');\n    dots[cur].classList.add('active');\n    start=null;\n    setSize();\n  }\n\n  function tick(ts){\n    if(!start)start=ts;\n    var p=Math.min((ts-start)\/dur,1);\n    update(p);\n    if(p>=1)show(cur+1);\n    requestAnimationFrame(tick);\n  }\n\n  window.hlGo=function(i){show(i);};\n  setSize();\n  requestAnimationFrame(tick);\n  window.addEventListener('resize',setSize);\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-black\">Introduction<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Phase I study established that reflective cracking in airport asphalt overlays can be simulated with high fidelity using 3-D fracture mechanics and viscoelastic material models,&nbsp;a significant milestone. But translating that simulation capability into a design tool that an airport engineer can&nbsp;actually use&nbsp;in daily practice requires&nbsp;more than&nbsp;accurate&nbsp;crack propagation calculations. It requires a way to connect those calculations to observable field outcomes: what percentage of joints will show cracking after a given number of years? How severe will those cracks be? And when does the cracking become severe enough to constitute structural failure of the overlay? These questions belong to the domain of transfer&nbsp;functions, the&nbsp;mathematical bridges that connect mechanistic model outputs to field performance observations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FAA&#8217;s long-range goal for its Reflective Cracking Study Program has always been to develop fully validated transfer functions and implement them in FAARFIELD, the agency&#8217;s official pavement design software used at airports nationwide. Phase II of this research program&nbsp;responds to that goal directly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"777\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-14.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-14.png 777w, https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-14-500x255.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:2rem;margin-bottom:2rem\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><span class=\"highlight-black\">Methodology and Framework<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-930feb06 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposed research is organized around three parallel tracks. The first track focuses on building the validation and calibration infrastructure: developing a large and diverse airport pavement condition database by collecting distress surveys, traffic records, and climate data from over 100 airports across the United States in diverse climatic regions. This database will be used to calibrate transfer functions by matching computational damage predictions to&nbsp;observed&nbsp;field cracking progression. The second track advances&nbsp;computational&nbsp;models by adding two new capabilities not included in Phase I: the simulation of AC-PCC interface debonding&nbsp;and load transfer efficiency (LTE) between adjacent concrete.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The third track develops the complete mechanistic-empirical design framework, connecting all components into a design protocol suitable for FAARFIELD implementation. The M-E framework processes monthly traffic and climate inputs, calculates the viscoelastic energy release rate via ANN surrogate models and EVCP, applies the modified Paris Law to accumulate crack growth incrementally, and ultimately predicts the percentage of cracked joints as a function of overlay age using S-shaped transfer functions calibrated to field data. The iterative design protocol evaluates trial overlay thicknesses against a cumulative damage&nbsp;factor&nbsp;(CDF) failure criterion, allowing engineers to select the&nbsp;minimum&nbsp;overlay thickness that meets the desired service life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"672\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-15.png 672w, https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/189\/2026\/05\/image-15-500x402.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"highlight-black\">Publications<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.pub-list{margin:20px 0;}\n.pub-card{border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-left:3px solid #e5e5e5;padding:18px 20px;margin-bottom:12px;background:#fff;position:relative;overflow:hidden;opacity:0;transform:translateY(24px);transition:opacity 0.6s ease,transform 0.6s ease;}\n.pub-card.visible{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);}\n.pub-card::before{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:3px;height:0%;background:rgb(255,198,39);transition:none;}\n.pub-card::after{content:'';position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;width:0%;height:3px;background:rgb(255,198,39);transition:none;}\n.pub-card.traced::before{height:100%;transition:height 1s ease;}\n.pub-card.traced-bottom::after{width:100%;transition:width 1s ease 1s;}\n.pub-top{display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:12px;}\n.pub-year{font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;color:#888;border:1px solid #ddd;padding:3px 8px;border-radius:3px;white-space:nowrap;margin-top:2px;}\n.pub-title{font-size:14px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1a1a;line-height:1.4;margin-bottom:5px;}\n.pub-authors{font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-bottom:4px;}\n.pub-journal{font-size:12px;color:#444;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;}\n.pub-link{font-size:11px;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#333;text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px solid #ccc;padding-bottom:1px;transition:border-color 0.2s;}\n.pub-link:hover{border-color:#333;}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"pub-list\">\n\n  <div class=\"pub-card\">\n    <div class=\"pub-top\">\n      <div class=\"pub-year\">2024<\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"pub-title\">Analysis of reflective cracking in asphalt overlaid jointed concrete airfield pavements using a 3D generalized finite element approach<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-authors\">Beheshti, M., Henrique Campana Bento, M., Silva Ramos, C., Duarte, C.A., Brill, D.R., &#038; Ozer, H.<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-journal\">International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 25(1)<\/div>\n        <a class=\"pub-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10298436.2024.2346291\" target=\"_blank\">View Paper \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pub-card\">\n    <div class=\"pub-top\">\n      <div class=\"pub-year\">2025<\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"pub-title\">Prediction of asphalt concrete energy release rate from Texas Overlay Test using machine learning<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-authors\">Liu, F., Beheshti, M., Ozer, H., &#038; Al-Qadi, I.L.<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-journal\">Road Materials and Pavement Design, 26(2), 441\u2013461<\/div>\n        <a class=\"pub-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14680629.2024.2356796\" target=\"_blank\">View Paper \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pub-card\">\n    <div class=\"pub-top\">\n      <div class=\"pub-year\">2025<\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"pub-title\">Viscoelastic Computational Fracture Mechanics Approach for the Analysis of Thermal Reflective Cracking in Asphalt Overlaid Jointed Concrete Airfield Pavements<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-authors\">Beheshti, M., &#038; Ozer, H.<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-journal\">Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2679(12), 823\u2013843<\/div>\n        <a class=\"pub-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/03611981251355528\" target=\"_blank\">View Paper \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pub-card\">\n    <div class=\"pub-top\">\n      <div class=\"pub-year\">2025<\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"pub-title\">Asphalt concrete overlay thermal reflective cracking stress intensity factor prediction using machine learning<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-authors\">Liu, F., Al-Qadi, I.L., Beheshti, M., &#038; Ozer, H.<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-journal\">Road Materials and Pavement Design, 1\u201322<\/div>\n        <a class=\"pub-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14680629.2025.2584554\" target=\"_blank\">View Paper \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"pub-card\">\n    <div class=\"pub-top\">\n      <div class=\"pub-year\">2026<\/div>\n      <div>\n        <div class=\"pub-title\">Machine learning-based predicted stress intensity factor to estimate reflective cracking in airfield asphalt concrete overlay under aircraft loading<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-authors\">Liu, F., Al-Qadi, I.L., Beheshti, M., &#038; Ozer, H.<\/div>\n        <div class=\"pub-journal\">International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 27(1)<\/div>\n        <a class=\"pub-link\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10298436.2026.2648620\" target=\"_blank\">View Paper \u2192<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<script>\nvar cards=document.querySelectorAll('.pub-card');\nvar obs=new IntersectionObserver(function(entries){\n  entries.forEach(function(e){\n    if(e.isIntersecting){e.target.classList.add('visible');obs.unobserve(e.target);}\n  });\n},{threshold:0.1});\ncards.forEach(function(c){obs.observe(c);});\n\nfunction traceCard(card,delay){\n  setTimeout(function(){\n    card.classList.add('traced');\n    setTimeout(function(){\n      card.classList.add('traced-bottom');\n    },1000);\n  },delay);\n}\n\nvar traceObs=new IntersectionObserver(function(entries){\n  entries.forEach(function(e){\n    if(e.isIntersecting){\n      var idx=Array.from(cards).indexOf(e.target);\n      traceCard(e.target,idx*1500);\n      traceObs.unobserve(e.target);\n    }\n  });\n},{threshold:0.1});\ncards.forEach(function(c){traceObs.observe(c);});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-2\">Highlights 01 \/ 03 \u2014 Objective Validated Transfer Functions for Mechanistic-Empirical Reflective Cracking Design Building on Phase I&#8217;s computational fracture framework, this study aims to develop validated and calibrated transfer functions that quantify reflective cracking severity and density in AC overlays, and integrate those functions into a full mechanistic-empirical (M-E) overlay design framework. 02 \/&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":498,"featured_media":0,"parent":1848,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2460","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/498"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2460"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2542,"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2460\/revisions\/2542"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.engineering.asu.edu\/pavement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}