Structural distress of cycle paths – the effect of heavy loading and groundwater table in full-scale testing

Assuring sufficient structural stability of cycle paths is important to avoid distress. Being thin and narrow structures, they are highly susceptible to edge cracking by passings of heavy vehicles. Two important factors that affect distress are lack of lateral support at the edge and increased moisture content in the unbound granular materials. Three full-scale instrumented cycle path structures with different structural design were constructed in a concrete pit at a test facility. Response measurements were conducted with a falling weight deflectometer, a light weight deflectometer, and light, standard and heavy maintenance vehicles at three different groundwater table scenarios. The results confirm reduced load-bearing capacity close to the edge, and at an increased groundwater table. In general, larger transverse tensile strains can also be expected in the asphalt layer close to the edge.