Assessment of the performance of rigid pavement back-calculation through finite element modeling

Samir N. Shoukry; Gergis W. William; David R. Martinelli

doi:10.1117/12.339920

1 February 1999 Assessment of the performance of rigid pavement back-calculation through finite element modeling

Samir N. Shoukry, Gergis W. William, David R. Martinelli

Proceedings Volume 3587, Nondestructive Evaluation of Bridges and Highways III; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339920
Event: Nondestructive Evaluation Techniques for Aging Infrastructures and Manufacturing, 1999, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

This study focuses on examining the behavior of rigid pavement layers during the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) test. Factors affecting the design of a concrete slab, such as whether the joints are doweled or undoweled and the spacing between the transverse joints, were considered in this study. Explicit finite element analysis was employed to investigate pavement layers' responses to the action of the impulse of the FWD test. Models of various dimensions were developed to satisfy the factors under consideration. The accuracy of the finite element models developed in this investigation was verified by comparing the finite element- generated deflection basin with that experimentally measured during an actual test. The results showed that the measured deflection basin can be reproduced through finite element modeling of the pavement structure. The resulting deflection basins from the use FE modeling was processed in order to backcalculate pavement layer moduli. This approach provides a method for the evaluation of the performance of existing backcalculation programs which are based on static elastic layer analysis. Based upon the previous studies conducted for the selection of software, three different backcalculation programs were chosen for the evaluation: MODULUS5.0, EVERCALC4.0, and MODCOMP3. The results indicate that ignoring the dynamic nature of the load may lead to crude results, especially during backcalculation procedures.

Citation Download Citation

Samir N. Shoukry, Gergis W. William, and David R. Martinelli "Assessment of the performance of rigid pavement back-calculation through finite element modeling", Proc. SPIE 3587, Nondestructive Evaluation of Bridges and Highways III, (1 February 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339920

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