Behaviour of Different Pavement Types Under Traffic Loads Using Finite Element Modelling

Abstract

Finite Element Modelling (FEM) has become an increasingly popular method to help researchers find solutions to complex problems of structural mechanics in engineering. Pavement is a complex structure which consists of multiple layers of different materials that influence its behaviour under stress. Rutting behaviour can be predicted by 3D model analysis using the ABAQUS program. The modelling process assumes that the performance of all materials is one of linear elastic behaviour. The main inputs in the modelling process are the material elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and layer thickness. Models consist of surface, base, subbase and subgrade layers. Subgrade layers are assumed to have infinite depth in all pavement models. This study employed a simulation process of rigid, semi-rigid and flexible pavements using a standard axle load of 80 kN, which represents a single two-wheeled axle. FEM analysis showed that instantaneous vertical displacement along the Z-axis reached 0.105 mm, 0.32 mm and 0.66 mm for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible pavements respectively. Increasing the subgrade elastic modulus from 10 MPa to 200 MPa decreased the vertical displacement by seven, six and a half, and three and a half times for rigid, semirigid and flexible pavement respectively. KENLAYER results refer to the maximum vertical displacements as being 0.1, 0.28 and 0.60 mm for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible pavement respectively. The subgrade elastic modulus is key to improving the resistance to failure of all pavement types. Incremental increase to the subgrade elastic modulus is a potential engineering solution to reducing vertical displacement.

Preparation and Engineering properties of Slurry Infiltrated Fibrous Concrete (SIFCON) -A Review

“…Various factors can impact the strength of SIFCON, such as the strength of the slurry, the type of fibers used, and their alignment and volume. [34] Studies have shown that increasing the percentage of fibers added to concrete mixtures results in increased compressive strength. [15][35] .Other researchers have found that there is an increase in strength up to a certain percentage of steel fibers.as shown in figure 1 Figure 1 effect of different percentage of fiber on 28 days compressive strength [36] Vijayakumar and Kumar [37] used different ratios of straight stainless steel fibers, ranging from 5% to 12%.…”

Literature Review of Cement Matrices and Fibers Used in SIFCON

“…Also, about 43% increment in flexural strength was obtained in the same case above. Thomas and Mathews (2014) [54] investigated the compressive and flexural strengths of SIFCON samples consisting of cement slurry (Portland cement grade 53, sand passing sieve size 4.75 by proportion 1:2, and superplasticizer 2%) and steel fiber (50 mm in length and 1mm diameter). The results showed that an increase in compressive strength (54% increment) and flexural strength (about 30% increment) for steel fiber volume from 4% to 5% and decreasing in compressive and flexural strengths in 6% steel fiber volume due to the entanglement in the steel fibers of this volume makes it difficult for the cement mortar to pass through them.…”

Permanent Deformation Evaluation of Modified Asphaltic Pavement Based on Numerical Simulation Models

“…1. To reduce the amount of inaccuracy caused by the edges, the dimensions 3600 mm * 4000 mm have been applied in longitudinal and transverse directions to complete the 3-D section of flexible pavement [17,18]. Furthermore, all model's parts were represented by using an element that is capable of displaying significant deformation, which is the 8-node continuum three-dimensional brick element C3D8R with three degrees of freedom at each node with reduced order numerical integration, and the figure below showed the shape of the continuum element.…”