Finite element modeling of environmental effects on rigid pavement deformation

Abstract

In this study, finite element (FE)-based primary pavement response models are employed for investigating the early-age deformation characteristics of jointed plain concrete pavements ( JPCP) under environmental effects. The FE-based ISLAB (two-and-one-half-dimensional) and EverFE (three-dimensional) software were used to conduct the response analysis. Sensitivity analyses of input parameters used in ISLAB and EverFE were conducted based on field and laboratory test data collected from instrumented pavements on highway US-34 near Burlington, Iowa. Based on the combination of input parameters and equivalent temperatures established from preliminary studies, FE analyses were performed and compared with the field measurements. Comparisons between field measured and computed deformations showed that both FE programs could produce reasonably accurate estimates of actual slab deformations due to environmental effects using the equivalent temperature difference concept. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Kim, S., Ceylan, H., and Gopalakrishnan, K. Finite Element Modelling of Environmental Effects on Rigid Pavement Deformation SUNGHWAN KIM, HALIL CEYLAN, and KASTHURIRANGAN GOPALAKRISHNAN AbstractIn this study, Finite Element (FE)-based primary response models are employed for investigating the early-age deformation characteristics of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements (JPCP) under environmental effects. The FE-based ISLAB (two-and-one -halfdimensional) and EverFE (three-dimensional) software were used to conduct the response analysis. Sensitivity analyses of input parameters used in ISLAB and EverFE were conducted based on field and laboratory test data collected from instrumented pavements on highway US-34 near Burlington, Iowa. Based on the combination of input parameters and equivalent temperatures established from preliminary studies, FE analyses were performed and compared with the field measurements. Comparisons between field measured and computed deformations showed that both FE programs could produce reasonably accurate estimates of actual slab deformations due to environmental effects using the equivalent temperature difference concept.

Thermo-Mechanical Model for Concrete Pavement

“…14) deformation shapes. It appears that the thermal load induces higher strains [7] (and consequently stresses) than the wheel load for concrete pavement. It is clear that non-linear temperature profile is too far from commonly prescribed linear gradient used in pavement analysis, leading to unacceptable simplifications.…”

Determination of Stresses and Displacements in Rigid Pavement Slabs, Through Finite Element Analysis

“…EverFE presents a highly interactive graphical user interface where structures can be modeled and the results can be visualized graphically or numerically, being able to visualize stresses and displacements in paving slabs and granular layers, as well as internal forces and moments of the load in dowels [7]. The software uses five elements to simulate JPCP systems: a) a 20-node quadratic element that has three deflection components at each node used for the slab, elastic base and subbase layer, (b) an 8-node plane quadratic element model the dense liquid foundation below the lowermost elastic layer, c) a 16-node quadratic interface element implements both aggregate interlocking joint and shear transfer at the slab-base interface, d) a flexural element and 3node embedment coupled with conventional 2-node shear beams are used to model the dowel bars and the tie bars and e) for the modeling of the subgrade, dense liquids with and without vertical support stress are used [8].…”

Effect of Temperature Difference on the Thickness Design of Pervious Concrete Pavements

“…ISLAB2005 is a FEM-based modeling software package developed specifically for concrete pavement analysis (31). The FEM model is based on Westergaard's theory of rigid plate on Winkler or dense liquid foundation.…”