Tire-Induced Surface Stresses in Flexible Pavements

Abstract

Site observations of flexible-pavement distress in various countries indicate frequent occurrence of longitudinal cracking in the top asphalt concrete layer. Analytic and numerical studies of multilayer elastic systems subject to wheel loads have linked longitudinal cracking to surface tensile stresses. However, due to the complexity of tire-pavement interaction resulting from tire geometry and loading conditions, accurate and fully representative distribution of surface stresses remains partly unknown. An attempt is made to provide information on surface stresses that derives from both theory and experiments. In particular, contact mechanics solutions are analyzed to gain information on loads that are subsequently used in performing numerical evaluation of surface stresses. Examples of three-dimensional computations using the finite-element code ABAQUS illustrate the analysis. The results indicate a greater potential for tensile stresses outside the tire treads than in the middle of the treads.

Linear viscoelastic analysis of a semi-infinite porous medium

“…The application of an inclined force distributed over a segment of the boundary of a half-plane leads to locally infinite horizontal surface stresses at the end points of the segment(Johnson, 1985;Soon et al, 2004).…”

Modelling the Interaction of Transport System Elements / Transporto Sistemos Elementų Sąveikos Modeliavimas / Моделирование Взаимодействия Элементов Транспортной Системы

“…To simulate the interaction between the vehicle's wheels and road pavement, studies by Luo, Prozzi (2007); Soon et al (2004); Perera, Kohn (2004); Douglas et al (2003); Capuruço et al (2005); Pečeliūnas, Prentkovskis (2006); Prentkovskis et al (2010a) and Park et al (2008) have been conducted.…”