Development of a Nonlinear Finite Element Pavement Response to Load Model

This report presents, improvements implemented for pavement response to load models performed during the Austroads project Developments of Pavement Design Models. There is a large diversity of local materials and significant demand for using alternative source materials such as recycled or modified materials. In that context, there is a need to consider each material characteristic in pavement models to better evaluate the critical strains and performance relationships for pavement design. To obtain a better representation of granular behaviour in pavement response, a finite element program has been developed integrating nonlinear behaviour of granular materials.