Abstract
In this research study three dimensional (3D) finite element analysis are performed on a flexible pavement section for different material properties, temperature and loading conditions. The main objective of this study is to predict the rut depth under different conditions of temperature, loadings and material properties. Three dimensional finite element model of flexible pavement is developed using ABAQUS to predict rut depth. The pavement system is assumed to be an elastic multi-layers system with each layer being isotropic, homogeneous with specified Resilient Modulus (Mr) and Poisson ratio (µ). With the exception of the bottom subgrade layer, each layer is extending to an unlimited horizontal extent and has a finite thickness. The pavement system analyze in this study for a cyclic load of 10000 cycles taken as 0.01sec per cycle. Standard Axle Load (ESAL) of 18 kips (80 kN) loading on an axle with a dual set of tires, the wheel spacing is 13.78 in (350 mm) with a tire contact pressure of 100 psi (0.69 MPa) is used. After performing a series of analysis the results showed that rut depth increases with increase in temperature and loading and decreases by using base stabilizer. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091727 Full Text: PDF
Highlights
Pakistan has national highways with a length over 9555 km
It was mandatory to get displacement “U2” along the wheel path so it was necessary to specify the output frequency in increments and request output according to a set of time points but instead of getting the only displacement, a request for stresses and strains are submitted for getting output database
On the other hand effect of silica fume on rutting is most obvious as for 10000 cycles where rutting is observed to be at the peak, rutting for using untreated base layer was around 77.92 mm while by using treated based layer it reduces to 7 mm which result in 91 % reduction in rutting by the provision of 10% silica fume as a base stabilizer
Summary
Premature rutting in flexible pavements of highways is one of the major distress being faced in Pakistan. Rutting occurs when persistent deformation occurs in all pavement layers as a result of frequent traffic loadings. As a result, rutting only occurs in flexible pavements as evidenced by permanent deformation or rut depth along the wheel paths. Temperature variation is the most significant factor that affects flexible pavement deformation, as it affects the stiffness of the asphalt mixture and the unbound layers. Temperature variation causes other distress, such as fatigue cracking, potholes and thermal cracking [1]. Traffic loads and environmental conditions (temperature variations) are the main causes of fatigue cracking [2]
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