Dynamic simulation of a flexible pavement layers considering shakedown effects and soil-asphalt interaction

Abstract

Abstract This research evaluates the effects of shakedown and soil asphalt interaction on the dynamic simulation of flexible layered pavement structure. In a newly developed assessment methodology the shakedown concept is implemented for the granular layer under asphalt concrete. Under this assessment granular material behaviour changes from plastic to elastic as a function of the number of loading cycles. Interactional forces are considered through contact elements placed between the base and the asphalt layer. A nonlinear stress dependent model in the elastic domain and the Mohr–Coulomb constitutive model in the plastic domain are utilised to simulate the behaviour of granular layers and the results of the simulation are validated with previously published literature. One static simulation and three different dynamic simulations under cyclic Haversine loading of a single tyre dual axle are then compared with each other. The first dynamic simulation assumes Mohr–Coulomb plasticity, the second simulation considers the shakedown effects and the third simulation calculates soil asphalt interactional forces.