Title: NON-LINEAR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE PAVEMENTS
Abstract: The conventional analysis method for rigid pavement is usually based on a closed-form solution for an infinitely long pavement subjected to static loads. The fact that rigid pavements have finite slab dimensions and are subjected to moving loads make the predicted pavement response under the closed-form assumptions inappropriate. Finite element methods (FEM) can be better used to model concrete pavements. Even though a number of studies of concrete pavements have been conducted using FEM, most of these assume that the concrete slab is a thin or thick plate resting on a Winkler dense liquid or elastic solid foundation. Static loading conditions are also assumed. This paper describes a study conducted at Purdue University that evaluated the damage effect of overloaded trucks on the Indiana highway network. A 3D dynamic FEM (3D-DFEM) was used to analyze both asphalt and concrete pavements. The concrete pavement was modeled as 3-D slabs resting on a layered foundation. The linear and non-linear material properties of the different layers--concrete slab, subbase, and subgrade--were represented. Truck loads moving at varying speeds were applied, and the pavement elastic and plastic responses were predicted. The pavement static response predicted by the 3D-DFEM was compared with that predicted using Westergaard's equations for similar conditions and no significant difference was found. A comparison was also made between the 3D-DFEM predictions and actual pavement deflections measured under moving trucks. The predicted pavement deflections were found to agree with the measured deflections. These static and dynamic verification studies demonstrate that the 3D-DFEM can be confidently used to predict actual pavement response from moving loads.
Publication Year: 1993
Publication Date: 1993-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 11
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