Three dimensional finite element modeling of flexible pavements

Beena Sukumaran, Michael Willis, Nishanth Chamala

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pavements currently in existence in most airports have not been designed to sustain the loading imposed by heavier and bigger aircraft, like the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A-380 and Boeing 777. With the help of the National Pavement Test Facility of the Federal Aviation Administration based in Atlantic City, a finite element model will be created capable of predicting shear failures in the subgrade. The pavement test facility at Atlantic City will serve as a valuable source of data for the study and at the same time, the finite element modeling study will enhance the understanding of pavement behavior. Finite element analyses techniques will be used to determine the failure mechanism in a pavement system under moving aircraft loads. The three-dimensionality of the failure surface under actual wheel loads with wander requires that computationally intensive three-dimensional models be used. The finite element techniques employed are verified against available failure data from the National Pavement Test Facility.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)87-98
Number of pages12
JournalGeotechnical Special Publication
Issue number130-142
StatePublished - 2005
EventGeo-Frontiers 2005 - Austin, TX, United States
Duration: Jan 24 2005Jan 26 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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