Application of Finite Layer Method in Pavement Structural Analysis

The finite element (FE) method has been widely used in predicting the structural responses of asphalt pavements. However, the three-dimensional (3D) modeling in general-purpose FE software systems such as ABAQUS requires extensive computations and is relatively time-consuming. To address this issue, a specific computational code EasyFEM was developed based on the finite layer method (FLM) for analyzing structural responses of asphalt pavements under a static load. Basically, it is a 3D FE code that requires only a one-dimensional (1D) mesh by incorporating analytical methods and using Fourier series in the other two dimensions, which can significantly reduce the computational time and required resources due to the easy implementation of parallel computing technology. Moreover, a newly-developed Element Energy Projection (EEP) method for super-convergent calculations was implemented in EasyFEM to improve the accuracy of solutions for strains and stresses over the whole pavement model. The accuracy of the program is verified by comparing it with results from BISAR and ABAQUS for a typical asphalt pavement structure. The results show that the predicted responses from ABAQUS and EasyFEM are in good agreement with each other. The EasyFEM with the EEP post-processing technique converges faster compared with the results derived from ordinary EasyFEM applications, which proves that the EEP technique can improve the accuracy of strains and stresses from EasyFEM. In summary, the EasyFEM has a potential to provide a flexible and robust platform for the numerical simulation of asphalt pavements and can easily be post-processed with the EEP technique to enhance its advantages.

[1]  Antonio Rodríguez-Ferran,et al.  The finite layer method for modelling the sound transmission through double walls , 2012 .

[2]  Markus Oeser,et al.  Development of a Nonlinear Finite Element Pavement Response to Load Model , 2018 .

[3]  Self-adaptive one-dimensional nonlinear finite element method based on element energy projection method , 2014 .

[4]  Peter E. Sebaaly,et al.  Finite-Layer Approach to Pavement Response Evaluation , 2000 .

[5]  Peter E. Sebaaly,et al.  Pavement Strain from Moving Dynamic 3D Load Distribution , 1998 .

[6]  O. C. Zienkiewicz,et al.  Plastic (or visco‐plastic) behaviour of axisymmetric bodies subjected to non‐symmetric loading—semi‐analytical finite element solution , 1979 .

[7]  J. C. Small,et al.  Finite layer analysis of viscoelastic layered materials , 1986 .

[8]  Using semi-analytical finite element method to evaluate stress intensity factors in pavement structure , 2008 .

[9]  Markus Oeser,et al.  Application of semi-analytical finite element method to analyze asphalt pavement response under heavy traffic loads , 2017 .

[10]  Dawei Wang,et al.  Application of Semi-analytical Finite Element Method Coupled with Infinite Element for Analysis of Asphalt Pavement Structural Response , 2015 .

[11]  J. Z. Zhu,et al.  The superconvergent patch recovery and a posteriori error estimates. Part 1: The recovery technique , 1992 .

[12]  Fritz J. Jooste,et al.  Flexible Pavement Response Evaluation using the Semi-analytical Finite Element Method , 2002 .

[13]  J. C. Small,et al.  Finite layer analysis of consolidation. I , 1982 .

[14]  John R Booker,et al.  FINITE LAYER ANALYSIS OF NON-HOMOGENEOUS SOILS , 1980 .

[15]  Edward L. Wilson,et al.  Structural analysis of axisymmetric solids. , 1965 .

[16]  Robert L. Lytton,et al.  Models for Predicting Reflection Cracking of Hot-Mix Asphalt Overlays , 2010 .

[17]  G. Strang,et al.  An Analysis of the Finite Element Method , 1974 .

[18]  John P. Carter,et al.  CONSOLIDATION OF AXI-SYMMETRIC BODIES SUBJECTED TO NON AXI-SYMMETRIC LOADING , 1983 .

[19]  John R Booker,et al.  Application of discrete Fourier series to the finite element stress analysis of axi-symmetric solids , 1991 .

[20]  Markus Oeser,et al.  SAFEM – Software With Graphical User Interface for Fast and Accurate Finite Element Analysis of Asphalt Pavements , 2017 .

[21]  Yang H. Huang,et al.  Pavement Analysis and Design , 1997 .

[23]  Y. K. Cheung,et al.  Analysis of pavements and layered foundations by finite layer method , 1979 .

[24]  Ivo Babuška,et al.  A posteriori estimation and adaptive control of the pollution error in the h‐version of the finite element method , 1995 .

[25]  John P. Carter,et al.  Consolidation of axisymmetric bodies subjected to non axisymmetric loading , 1981 .

[26]  Dawei Wang,et al.  Application of semi-analytical finite element method to evaluate asphalt pavement bearing capacity , 2018 .

[27]  J R Booker,et al.  SURFACE DEFORMATION OF LAYERED SOIL DEPOSITS DUE TO EXTRACTION OF WATER. ACMSM 9; THE NINTH AUSTRALASIAN CONFERENCE ON THE MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS, 29-31 AUGUST 1984, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY , 1984 .

[28]  Markus Oeser,et al.  Einsatz der Semi-Analytischen Finite-Elemente-Methode zur Analyse der Beanspruchungszustaende von Asphaltbefestigungen , 2014 .

[29]  SELF-ADAPTIVE STRATEGY FOR ONE-DIMENSIONAL FINITE ELEMENT METHOD BASED ON ELEMENT ENERGY PROJECTION METHOD , 2006 .

[30]  J. R. Booker,et al.  Finite layer analysis of layered elastic materials using a flexibility approach. Part 1—Strip loadings , 1984 .