A calibrated analytical pavement model was developed for predicting response and performance of granular pavements to a wider range of loadings under heavy vehicles. For granular materials, the treatments for non-linear stress-strain response (stress-dependent characteristics) under repeated loading required the inclusion of both initial and failure stress conditions to produce more realistic solutions. Laboratory testing has been conducted to fully simulate the behaviour of granular materials and subgrade under heavy compaction plants and heavy vehicles. New material models have been developed from the laboratory results. They have also been implemented into Finite Element Methods (FEM) for both 2-dimensional and 3- dimensional cases to fully predict pavement response and deformation under different loading regimes. Field trials using the Australian Accelerated Loading Facility and Falling Weight Deflectometer were carried out to determine field response and deformation of granular pavements for the validation of the analytical models. It was found that the FEM predicted pavement response and performance are in agreement with field measurements. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. 0612AR242E.
Abstract