FEM based parametric analysis for investigating effect of wheel base characteristics and axle configurations on flexural stresses in rigid pavements

Abstract

The main advantages of rigid pavements are their durability and ability to hold their shapes when subject to heavy traffic and extreme weather conditions. Different vehicles have different wheel base characteristics and axle load configurations, due to which the above conditions structurally affect the performance of the rigid pavements in different ways. One of the main causes of critical defects in the rigid pavement is the development of flexural stress exceeding the critical level under different conditions. In rigid pavements the critical stresses are generated with the combination of wheel load stresses and curling stresses. In this paper, the investigation of the variation of flexural stress developed in jointed plain concrete pavements under different axle load configuration and wheelbase characteristics was done using FEM (Finite Element Method). In this paper, the modelling of the rigid pavement was carried out using KENPAVE software. In modelling, effect of both axle load and temperature difference is considered. For loading effect, axle configuration of SASW (Single Axle Single Wheel), SADW (Single Axle Dual Wheel), Tandem and Tridem axle was considered in modelling. To include the combined effect of base and subgrade an equivalent modulus of subgrade reaction was considered as per the IRC-58 code provisions. Parameters related to rigid pavement were taken according to the provisions of IRC code for modelling of base case. Parameters of pavement like thickness of pavement slab, equivalent modulus of subgrade reaction, temperature difference, modulus of elasticity and location of wheel load were changed from the base case and maximum tensile stress was calculated for each axle configurations. Based on the analysis of results for different thickness of pavement slab, equivalent modulus of subgrade reaction, temperature difference, modulus of elasticity and location of wheel load, the variation of magnitude and location of maximum tensile stress was reported for given properties of subgrade, base and axle configuration.