The critical stresses of large aircraft on the airport rigid pavement were analyzed using 3D finite element program, FEAFAA. Four large aircraft with multiple-gear structures, the A380, B747, A340-500, and A340-200, were selected for the analysis. The curling effect on top-down cracking prediction was investigated through the equivalent temperature gradient (ETG). Among the curling directions of downward curling, flat and upward curling, the upward curling shows the greatest critical top-to-bottom tensile stress ratio (t/b ratio), as expected. Also, for upward curling, the t/b ratio shows a high linear dependence on the ETG value for the considered ETG range. The critical gear position is identified for upward curling: a critical gear position exists for A340-500 and A340-200, and a critical gear area exists for B747 and A380. Finally, the sensitivity analysis for the A380 shows that: the t/b ratio is highly sensitive to the slab thickness and the elastic modulus of the subgrade, but insensitive to the elastic modulus of the slab, subbase thickness, and the elastic modulus of the subbase; the t/b ratio tends to increase as the elastic modulus of the subgrade and slab thickness increase; and the critical gear position can be regarded insensitive to the elastic modulus and thickness of each pavement layer, since it is always located in the critical gear area.
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