3D-FE of jointed plain concrete pavement over continuum elastic foundation to obtain the edge stress

Abstract

The article presents the results of computational modeling of a rigid pavement with load applied to the edge of the slab, for which a multipurpose software (ABAQUS / CAE) based on the finite element method is used. First, it is explained in detail how computational modeling is performed, taking as reference two types of rigid pavements (pavement with and without concrete shoulder). In the process, the main characteristics and hypotheses taken to model the load, the edge conditions and the characteristics of the materials are presented. The mesh density and the finite element type to be used are also analyzed, based on an experimental design. In order to reduce computation times, studies were conducted to make geometric simplifications to the domain. The final solution is contrasted with the Westergaard´s theory and the results of a finite element software already experimentally validated according to the bibliography (EverFE v2.24). Studies of some of the most important factors for pavement designing were conducted. Finally, graphs are shown in specific conditions of geometry and materials, which will serve as practical tools for use in design methods.

Overview of the Constitutive Model and Numerical Calibration by FEM to Compute Bearing Capacity and Embankment-Core Deformability

“…Murata et al (2020) evaluated pavement and embankments by means of a superficial technique. Although, in recent years, many of the studies for road embankments only focus on pavement and the first layers of the base and subbase (Albarazi, 2020;Hernández-López et al, 2020), others focus on deformational state behavior (Mesa et al, 2020;Pardo de Santayana et al, 2020).…”

Characteristics of compressive stress around dowel joint in concrete pavement system

“…In addition to experimental tests, finite element analysis (FEA) is an effective tool to evaluate the structural performance of concrete pavement systems (Tabatabaie and Barenberg 1978, Tabatabaie and Barenberg 1980, Tayabji and Colley 1986, Channakeshava et al 1993, Guo et al 1995, Kuo et al 1995, Davids 2001, Riad 2001, Maitra et al 2009, Zhou 2011, Li et al 2012, Mackiewicz 2015a, Mackiewicz 2015b, Sadeghi and Hesami 2018a, Hernández López et al 2020, Mackiewicz and Szydło 2020. Several decades ago, due to less developed M-3/27 computational systems, two-dimensional finite element models were preferred to assess the loading transfer of JPCP systems and common modelling techniques are introduced as follows…”