Simplified approach to estimating the loading response of traffic infrastructures

Abstract

Various numerical methods are commonly used to model the loading response of traffic infrastructures. However, the broader implementation of these methods into practice is typically limited by the high computing cost or technical complexity of the models. Computationally lighter methods are especially needed when a substantial number of calculations must be performed. Hence, this paper introduces a new simplified approach to estimating the loading response of different traffic infrastructures, e.g. roads and railways. This approach is based on the novel approximate solution for the vertical and shear stress fields caused by a uniformly distributed circular surface load. The presented theory has been validated using versatile field measurement data from different types of road structures under varied loading conditions. In the verification calculations, both the vertical stresses within the structure and the deflection of the road surface were examined. The findings indicate that the model closely aligns with the behavior observed in actual structures. The approach presented in this paper enables a quick and easy determination of the loading response of multi-layer traffic infrastructures, providing a new practical calculation tool for researchers and practitioners.