Numerical comparison of flexible pavement dynamic response under different axles

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite element model was utilised to examine the flexible pavement dynamic response under single, tandem and tridem axles at different speeds. Using two different hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer thicknesses, 15.2 and 25.4 cm, the dynamic effects of moving axles were investigated on critical responses. These responses include the tensile strain at the bottom of asphalt layer, compressive strain on the top of subgrade and tensile and compressive strain on the surface layer. In this study, the HMA layer and other layers were characterised as linear viscoelastic and elastic material, respectively. Since this research focuses specifically on the time and dynamic effects, considering the transient dynamic loading and inertia forces, implicit dynamic analysis was done. The important findings are as follows. (1) Strains induced by tridem axles could be greater than tandem axles or even equal at different speeds. (2) It cannot be stated that axles always induce greater critical response value to road systems at lower speed because at higher speed they can also induce greater critical response value in pavements than that at lower speed. (3) Changing trend and changing rate of strains with speed are strongly affected by pavement thickness. In general, the effects of different axle configurations are strongly affected by moving speed and surface layer thickness.