Subgrade fatigue life effects due to a pressurized void

Abstract

The effect on the fatigue life of a subgrade beneath a uniformly loaded cement concrete runway, when detonation gases have formed a void in the subgrade is considered. The research models numerically the runway and the subgrade and considers the void when empty, partially filled, and filled. The void may or may not be pressurized. Pressurizing the void reduces the downward vertical runway surface displacements. In only two of the 90 numerical models considered did pressurizing the void increase the subgrade fatigue life. In the subgrade outside the cone of disturbance, the fatigue life was significantly reduced.