Three Dimensional Finite Element Modeling As A Tool For Flexible Pavement Design And Analysis PDF Download

The report describes a preliminary study to evaluate the applicability of three-dimensional finite element analysis for predicting the behavior of pavement systems. Since many pavement problems are not reducible to plane behavior, this new analysis technique should provide a good basis for future analysis of complicated pavement systems. The finite element computer program used in this study is designated SOLSAP and was originally developed to investigate the three-dimensional behavior of earth and earth-rock dams. It was used in this study to investigate the effect of a static load application (similar to that produced by the C-5A aircraft) on a flexible pavement section that had been previously field-tested at the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. SOLSAP considers both nonlinear stress-strain behavior and nonlinear volume characteristics. (Modified author abstract).