Nonlinear Response of Transverse Joints of Airfield Pavements

Abstract

The response of transverse joints of airfield rigid pavements subjected to wheel load is studied. It covers the linear and nonlinear behaviors of the joint by suitably modeling the concrete as elastoviscoplastic and the dowels with elastoplastic materials. The pavements are assumed to be resting on a Kelvin foundation having no gap in between at any stage. The firmness of soil is included in the study as a parameter in terms of its modulus of subgrade reaction. The static effect of a tire pressure is assumed as a long duration pulse that is applied suddenly and then rests for a long time. A fully 3D finite-element software package with an element library, including brick elements, beam-column elements, spring elements, etc., has been developed for the study. Newmark's step-by-step predictor-corrector implicit algorithm is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equations. The program is validated with established test results and then used for other studies relating to the distribution of shear force in the dowel group, the load-transfer ratio from loaded slab to unloaded slab through the dowels, etc.