A finite element model for rutting prediction of flexible pavement considering temperature effect

Abstract EN

Permanent deformation in asphalt layers which manifestation on pavement surface is named rutting which represents one of the most significant distress of asphalt pavements.

Different empirical models have been used to calculate permanent deformations which include traffic conditions and temperature effect.

These empirical models were calibrated in a three dimensional finite element commercial software package.

Finite element analysis through ANSYS computer software (version 11.0) was used to analyze three dimensional pavement structures and in order to investigate the impact of wheel load on rutting formation and pavement response considering temperature effect.

In that model, the asphalt layer was assumed to follow a viscoelastic behavior by depending on dynamic modulus using Timm and Newcomb model.

While, granular and subgrade layers were presented as linear-elastic perfectly plastic based on Drucker-Prager model.

After insuring the model validation, the study investigated the effect of temperature on the rutting depth and plastic strain as a pavement response.

The analysis of results showed that the rut depth and plastic strain increases with increasing the temperature.