Sensitivity of Rigid Pavement Responses to Pavement Layer Thickness Due to Wheel Load: A Nonlinear Finite Element Study

Abstract

The behavior of a jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) has been investigated under single wheel load for interior loading using finite element technique to predict the critical pavement responses for both linear and nonlinear geometrical characterization. The idealized pavement system is analyzed using 3D finite element analysis with the general purpose finite element software ABAQUS. The developed 3D model was analyzed for four combinations of material characterizations- (1) linear base and subgrade material, (2) nonlinear base and linear subgrade, (3) linear base and nonlinear subgrade, and (4) nonlinear base and nonlinear subgrade. Effects of different pavement layer thicknesses i.e. slab thickness and base course material thicknesses on the critical pavement responses were studied. The study shows that for a jointed plain concrete pavement, the maximum values of pavement deflection of slab top, tensile stress at the bottom of concrete slab and vertical pressure on top of subgrade are reduced significantly up to a concrete slab thickness of 225 mm (9 inch), above which the influence of slab thickness on pavement responses reduces significantly. The effects of base course material thickness on the maximum values of pavement deflection, tensile stress and subgrade pressure are less significant compared to effects of slab thickness.