This study resulted from the need for better consideration of subgrade and unbound layers on the performance of flexible pavements in Kansas. Thus, the main objective was to develop pavement performance prediction models with emphasis on the effects of subgrade and unbound layers. To this end, pavement distress data, which were collected over several years across the state of Kansas, including rutting, fatigue cracking, transverse cracking, roughness and core analysis, served as the input data into statistical models. The effects of subgrade and unbound layers were represented by the corresponding results of dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) tests and thickness of the unbound layer. In addition, traffic volume was represented by average annual daily truck traffic (AADTT). Multiple statistical analyses identified positive correlations of dynamic cone penetration index (DPI) and rate of total rutting, and DPI and percent of good core. Negative correlation was discovered between DPI and fatigue cracking code one, and DPI and percent of poor core. AADTT was positively correlated with transverse cracking codes one and two while it had no correlation with transverse cracking code zero. Thickness of the unbound layer was negatively correlated with pavement roughness and percent of poor core, while it was positively correlated with the percent of good core. Finally, the recommendation for minimum acceptable value of California bearing ratio (CBR) was provided based on the correlation between DPI and rate of change of rutting code. The recommendation enables the selection of a CBR value based on the number of years required for unit increase in the rutting code.
This study investigates the response of pre-stressed anchored excavation walls under dynamic and pseudo-static loadings. A finite difference numerical model was developed using FLAC2D, and the results were successfully validated against full-scale experimental data. Analyses were performed on 10, and 20-m-height stabilized excavated slopes with 60° to 90° of inclination angle with the horizon to represent an applicable variety of wall geometries. In dynamic analysis, the statically stabilized models were subjected to 0.2 to 0.6g of the dynamic peak acceleration to evaluate the effect of ground acceleration on their performance. Furthermore, pseudo-static analyses were performed on the statically stabilized models with pseudo-static coefficients ranging from 0.06 to 0.22. The results revealed that ground anchored slopes generally showed acceptable performances under dynamic loading, while higher axial forces were induced to ground anchors in higher and steeper models. Furthermore, comparing the results of dynamic and pseudo-static analyses showed a good agreement between the two methods' predictions in the mobilized axial force along the ground anchors. Pseudo-static coefficients were then proposed to replicate dynamic results, considering the slope geometry and dynamic load peak acceleration. The results revealed that higher and steeper stabilized slopes required higher values of pseudo-static coefficients to match the dynamic predictions successfully. The results indicate that pseudo-static coefficient tend to increase with the increase in dynamic load peak acceleration in any given model. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091703 Full Text: PDF
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