A Mechanistic Framework for Evaluating the Performance of Asphalt Pavements Subjected to Frost Heave and Thaw Settlement
Saeed Vosoughian at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering will publicly defend his doctoral thesis on 20 January 2026.
What is the topic of your Doctoral Thesis?
The title of my doctoral thesis is “A Mechanistic Framework for Evaluating the Performance of Asphalt Pavements Subjected to Frost Heave and Thaw Settlement.”
Why did you choose this topic?
The motivation for this research stems from the significant and persistent challenges associated with pavement performance in cold regions. Seasonal freezing and thawing of frost-susceptible soils induce ground surface deformations that lead to premature deterioration of asphalt pavements. Despite extensive empirical knowledge and practical mitigation measures, there remains a lack of comprehensive mechanistic models capable of linking subsurface frost action to the structural response and damage evolution of asphalt layers. This research was therefore undertaken to bridge that gap by developing a physics-based framework that integrates soil freezing-thawing processes with advanced constitutive modeling of asphalt materials.
What are the most important results?
The framework successfully captures the evolution of ice and water contents, porosity changes, and ground surface deformations in the soil, as well as the initiation and progression of damage in the asphalt layer. The results demonstrate that the model can realistically simulate both uniform and non-uniform frost-induced deformations and their impact on pavement performance under realistic climatic conditions.
Did you come across something unexpected during your thesis research?
One particularly interesting outcome was the effectiveness of interpreting frost heave and thaw settlement processes through concepts borrowed from continuum damage mechanics. Treating ice lens formation and excess water release during thawing as analogous to healing and damage processes, respectively, provided a coherent and robust way to couple soil behavior with pavement damage mechanisms. This analogy proved more powerful and versatile than initially anticipated.
Who will benefit from your results? What kind of impact may it have on the surrounding society?
The outcomes of this research are primarily beneficial to pavement engineers, infrastructure owners, and transportation authorities responsible for road networks in cold regions. By providing a predictive and mechanistic assessment tool, the framework supports more informed design decisions, optimized maintenance strategies, and evaluation of mitigation measures. In a broader societal context, this can contribute to more durable road infrastructure, reduced maintenance costs, improved traffic safety, and lower environmental impact due to fewer rehabilitation interventions.
What will you do next / where can one reach you?
Following my doctoral defense, I intend to continue my work in research, focusing on the mechanics and durability of pavement materials and infrastructure under environmental loading. I remain open to academic and industrial collaborations.