3D Finite-Element Dynamic Analysis of Rigid Pavement Using Infinite Elements

Abstract

A solution algorithm based on three-dimensional (3D) finite-element analysis is presented to study the dynamic response of concrete pavements subjected to moving loads. The pavement is discretized by 20-node isoparametric brick elements. The supporting soil medium is idealized by the elastic continuum model. Kelvin elements are attached to the transmitting boundary separating the near field and far field of the infinite soil medium in the vertical and longitudinal directions. Three-dimensional, 16-node infinite elements are attached to the transmitting boundary in the longitudinal direction to simulate the infinite soil medium in vehicle traverse direction. The moving vehicle is modeled by a mass supported by a linear spring and dashpot assembly simulating the vehicle suspension system. The vehicle-pavement interaction force is modeled with a Dirac-delta function. The dynamic equilibrium equation is solved by applying the Newmark-Beta integration scheme. The effects of vehicle-pavement interaction, pavement thickness, and soil parameters on the dynamic response of pavement are investigated by conducting a parametric study. It has been observed that the dynamic interaction between the moving load and the pavement has a significant effect on pavement response.