Mechanisms and Control of Accumulated Plastic Deformation in Highway Subgrades for Durable Service

Saiyu Ni; Dingyu Ni

doi:10.63313/AERpc.9106

Authors

Saiyu Ni Wenzhou Design Assembly Company Ltd., Wenzhou 325000, China Author
Dingyu Ni Wenzhou Polytechnic, Wenzhou, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/AERpc.9106

Keywords:

Highway subgrade, Long-term cyclic loading, Permanent deformation, Prediction model, Durable subgrade

Abstract

Under long-term cyclic traffic loading, subgrade soils may develop accumulated irrecoverable plastic strain, which gradually evolves into permanent deformation affecting pavement smoothness, bearing capacity, and durability. Compared with construction-stage compaction quality, permanent deformation of subgrades during operation can better reflect the long-term service risks of road structures under coupled loading–environmental effects. This paper systematically reviews the testing and characterization, influencing factors, prediction models, structural calculation methods, and control approaches for subgrade permanent deformation. The results indicate that water content, degree of compaction, cyclic stress, confining pressure, loading duration, rest period, and overburden static load jointly govern the development of permanent deformation. Existing constitutive models have a solid theoretical basis but are limited by computational efficiency in long-term cyclic analysis, whereas mechanical–empirical models are convenient for engineering applications but still face limitations in parameter calibration and generalization capability. Future research should strengthen the reproduction of service conditions, coupled moisture-field and stress-field analysis, and reliability-based control criteria, thereby providing a basis for durable subgrade design and maintenance decision-making.

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