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.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.