STUDY OF PAVEMENT RESPONSE TO VEHICLE LOADING AND EVALUATION OF DAMAGE DUE TO OVERLOAD
Date
2023-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IOE Pulchowk Campus
Abstract
Flexible pavements are extensively utilized in roadway and airport construction due to their
capacity to endure traffic loads and deformations. Finite element (FE) analysis has emerged
as a prominent tool for projecting the performance of flexible pavements subjected to
varying traffic loads and environmental conditions. In this report, an FE model of a flexible
pavement was established and scrutinized through the use of the commercial software
ABAQUS. The model encompassed numerous layers, including asphalt concrete, base,
subbase, and subgrade layers. Validation of the FE model was done using IITPAVE. The
linear model of the developed stress exhibited an increment in response with a rise in
vehicular speed, whereas the viscoelastic model revealed a decline in stress with an increase
in vehicular speed. It was found that the viscoelastic pavement has a higher response than
linear elastic pavement and was concluded that the viscoelastic pavement is subjected to
damage earlier than the linearly elastic pavement due to the development of more strain in
viscoelastic pavement than in linearly elastic pavement. The findings of the FE analysis
divulged that the pavement responses were heavily influenced by the individual properties
of the various pavement layers and the traffic loads applied.
Additionally, the report addresses the issue of pavement failure due to overloaded vehicles
on highways in Nepal, which reduces the road's service life. The findings indicate that the
major cause of pavement failure is vehicle overload, with a decrease in remaining service
life for the pavement ranging from 46 to 68 percent for an average value of overloading. The
study also found that the required increase in asphalt overlaying due to vehicle overload is
15 to 21 percent for an average value of overloading. The CESAL values obtained through
different methods provide fairly consistent estimates for the reduction in pavement service
life and the increase in overlay thickness.
Description
Pavement is a multi-layered system that transmits the vehicular loads into the underlying soil. The
frequent loading and unloading of pavements with varying intensity and speeds makes their quality
and strength deteriorate quickly. This deterioration is unavoidable, but it can be delayed by proper
design and construction of pavements.
Keywords
ABAQUS