Fuzzy-Modulus-Based Layered Elastic Analysis of Asphalt Pavements for Enhanced Fatigue Life Prediction

The paper presents a novel approach to evaluating the fatigue performance of asphalt pavements using fuzzy set theory to model the uncertainty in the elastic moduli of asphalt layers. The method integrates fuzzy numbers with an analytical multilayer elastic pavement model. By applying α-cut representation and defuzzification techniques, the model delivers fuzzy estimations of critical strain responses and associated fatigue lives under traffic loading. The proposed methodology captures uncertainty in material properties more realistically than conventional deterministic approaches. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated through the Asphalt Institute's fatigue models for tensile and compressive strains. The results provide fuzzy bounds for fatigue life parameters and enable robust pavement design under material uncertainty. By incorporating fuzzy-modulus-based parameters into layered elastic half-space models, the proposed method significantly improves the predictive reliability of pavement performance.