Comparative Structural Analysis of Flexible Pavements Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

The evaluation of bituminous concrete mixes for their tendency to rutting has been an important research field for many years. Rutting is a major type of distress encountered in bituminous pavements. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical analysis technique to obtain various structural parameters such as stress, strain and deflection of pavement layers. The objective of this paper is to study the sensitivity of these variables in reducing the vertical surface deflections, the critical tensile strains at the bottom of the bitumen layer and the critical compressive strains on the top of subgrade using the finite element method. This study has been carried out in order to compare the performance of flexible pavement using the finite element method and KENLAYER. Vertical surface deflections in flexible pavements have always been a major concern and are used as a criterion for pavement design. It is desirable to reduce the deflections as much as possible. This paper deals with ways to reduce deflections by varying the design configuration, such as increasing the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) modulus, the base modulus, sub base modulus and the subgrade modulus. Another objective of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of two different methods in reducing vertical surface deflections (wo) and the critical tensile strains in the bitumen layer (εt) or the radial strains at the bottom layer of HMA. The finite element method was adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of the two methods and the sensitivity of various factors

Finite Element Method analysis for mechanistic design in flexible pavement, Review: From how to build a material in FE analysis to complexity in reality

“…The contact area can be modeled as a circular shape or rectangular shape, and in the case when contact is modeled in rectangular shape it is guided to have a dimension of BΧ0.7B. The moving tire can be embody as an imprint area to represent a smooth pavement surface [8], [9].…”

Investigation of Flexible Pavement Failure along Ede – Akoda Road, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria

“…Whatever the choice, with good engineering, the road should out live its design life and serves the community well (Shere, Worku and Keno, 2018). The principal function is to receive load from the traffic and conveys it through its layer to the subgrade (Gupta, 2014). Ogundipe (2008) stated that a pavement is said to be defective when it can no longer perform this function during its design life.…”

“…This was also supported by the works of Gupta (2003) and Ajani (2006). Gupta (2014), Momoh et al (2008) and Adiat et al (2009) in their study of failed highway pavements using geophysical methods, found that some geological factors influence road failure such as the near surface geologic sequence, existence of geological structures like fractures and faults, presence of laterites, existence of ancient stream channels, and shear zones.…”

Evaluation of Flexible Pavement Deflections with Respect to Pavement Depths Using Software (A Case Study Jimma to Seka Road)

“…The major causes of failure in asphalt pavement are fatigue cracking caused by excessive vertical compressive and horizontal tensile strain at the top subgrade and bottom of asphalt layer due to repeated traffic loading and rutting deformation, caused by densification and shear deformation of sub grade. Excess vertical surface deflections in flexible pavements have always been major concern and used as a criterion of pavement design [1].…”