The structural mechanics analysis of the Portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP) is considerably complicated and distinctive. From the application viewpoint, the capabilities and characteristics of two typical professional finite element software products, named KENSLABS and EverFE, are analyzed. The similarities and differences between these two programs are compared. The comparisons focus on some key factors of modeling and solution strategies, such as element type, meshing, traffic load and temperature curling, boundary conditions, and contact conditions. Based on one specific case example, the two software products were conducted to demonstrate their main functions. The research results clarify the performance of the two software products for structural analysis of cement concrete pavement and indicate each application conditions from their respective features, which can provide valuable references for software users and program developers.
An elastoplastic numerical model for calculating the consolidation settlement of wide embankment on soft ground is established using PLAXIS finite element software to investigate the settlement behaviour of soft ground under the wide embankment. The distribution rules are analysed and compared to narrow embankments, such as surface settlements of ground and embankment, lateral displacement of soft ground at the foot of embankment slope and excess pore pressure in soft ground. The influence rule of elastic modulus of soft ground on the settlement of soft ground under wide embankment is discussed. The results show that the settlement distributions of wide and narrow embankments on soft ground are “W” and “V” shapes, respectively. The maximum settlement of wide embankment is near the foot of the embankment slope, which is unequal to the settlement at the centreline of the embankment. The lateral displacement distribution rules of soft ground are both “belly” shaped at the foot of two types of embankments slope. However, the lateral displacement of the wide embankment is larger in each corresponding stage. During the construction period, the excess pore pressure in the soft ground under the wide embankment is much higher than that of the narrow embankment, so the post-construction consolidation time of the wide embankment is longer. Moreover, the macroscopic settlement rule of the wide embankment is still the same with the increase of elastic modulus of soft ground.
In this paper, the typical cases of subgrade separated widening project in China are summarised. The research progress of subgrade separated widening and isolating wall applications are reviewed in highway reconstruction and extension. A numerical model is established based on the PLAXIS finite element software, considering both material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity. The effect mechanism of the isolating wall is discussed on the settlement control of the new and existing embankment on soft ground. The effect rule of the core design parameters of the isolating wall is revealed on the settlement disturbance of the existing embankment, such as location, depth, thickness and elastic modulus, and the weight rank of the influence is analysed. The results indicate that the isolating wall effectively reduces the lateral displacement and vertical settlement of the existing embankment, and there is an optimal design location for the isolating wall. In addition, with the increase of design parameters of the isolating wall, including depth, thickness and elastic modulus, the overall settlement of the existing embankment tends to be uniform, and there are optimal values. Furthermore, the depth of isolating wall is given priority, compared to location, thickness and elastic modulus during the isolating wall design process. The research results lay a theoretical foundation for the design optimisation of the isolating wall in the separated widening project of soft ground.
Two representative programs, MICH-PAVE and KENLAYER, are selected and compared to many key aspects of their analysis algorithms to achieve an in-depth understanding of the features of the Finite Element Method and elastic layered system theory in nonlinear material analysis of the structure of asphalt pavement. Furthermore, by conducting a case study, the impact of using different analysis methods on the calculation results is presented. Moreover, the feasibility of the equivalent resilient modulus obtained by the Finite Element Method is discussed. The results show that the difference among the nonlinear analysis algorithms used by the two software packages is mainly reflected in the determination of the initial resilient modulus, the stress correction, and the convergence condition. Besides, the Finite Element Method could consider the variation of the resilient modulus induced by the change in the stress condition in both the radial and the depth directions simultaneously. In contrast, the theory of the elastic layered system only considers the dependence of the resilient modulus on the stress in the depth direction. Additionally, the use of diverse nonlinear analysis methods has different levels of impact on mechanical responses. Finally, the equivalent resilient modulus obtained by nonlinear analysis can be used to calculate mechanical responses of pavement structure except the surface deflection in a linear analysis.
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