Pavement Modeling and Design Functions

Flexible Pavement Design Course January 2008

Stellenbosch University Steph Bredenhann February 1, 2008

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Vermelding onderdeel organisatie

Summary
SA Mechanistic Design Method Pavement Loading and Response Linear Elastic Method Constitutive Modeling Examples

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SA Mechanistic Design Approach

Theyse, de Beer & Rust (1996)

Material characterization mainly from tabulated values Linear elastic methods used for pavement response Pavement life estimated from transfer functions

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Deficiencies of the SAMD

Jooste (2004)

Jooste discussed deficiencies in the SAMD at CAPSA 2004 and gave two major disadvantages: Sensitivity of model to assumed input values Empirical element (transfer functions) not suitable for specific material and situation I might add, inter alia, the following deficiencies: Linear elastic method Material characterization
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SAMD on Coarse Granular Materials SAFETY FACTOR

Jooste (2004)

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Yield Condition and Active Slip Planes Mohr-Coulomb Yield Condition

Cohesion Angle of internal friction Internal friction coefficient

S li pp e1 lan

= tan
Mohr-Coulomb criteria
3

2 2
q
pla ne

c 1

= c +
Max where =
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Slip

Mohr-Coulomb Yield Condition in 3D

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SAMD on Coarse Granular Materials TRANSFER FUNCTION

Jooste (2004)

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SAMD on Coarse Granular Materials PAVEMENT ANALYSED

Jooste (2004)

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SAMD on Coarse Granular Materials SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Jooste (2004)

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Pavement Life vs Subgrade Modulus

50 mm Continuously graded asphalt surfacing (E = 3 500 MPa) 150 mm G1 base (E = 300 MPa) 150 mm G5 subbase (E = 200 MPa) 250 mm G7 SSG (E = 120 MPa) SG of infinite thickness and E = variable. Pavement life initially increases with increased subgrade strength, as can be expected. Failure occurs in SG At 55 MPa the pavement life starts to reduce and failure occurs in SSG Why would pavement life decrease with a stronger foundation?
20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 100 200 300 400

Pavement Life (million E80s)

Subgrade Modulus (MPa)

Failure SG Failure SSG

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Pavement Life vs Subgrade Modulus Illustration from mePads

ESG = 30 MPa
Estimated Layer Bearing Capacity 1.00+12 Layer Bearing Capacity Layer Bearing Capacity 1.00+10 1.00+08 1.00+06 1.00+04 1.00+02 1.00+00 AC G1 G5 Layer Soil Soil 1.00+12 1.00+10 1.00+08 1.00+06 1.00+04 1.00+02 1.00+00 AC G1 G5 Layer Soil Soil

ESG = 100 MPa

Estimated Layer Bearing Capacity

Pavement Life vs Asphalt Thickness Illustration from mePads

hAC = 30 mm
Estim ated Layer Bearing Capacity 1.00+14 Layer Bearing Capacity Layer Bearing Capacity 1.00+12 1.00+10 1.00+08 1.00+06 1.00+04 1.00+02 1.00+00 AC G1 G5 Layer Soil Soil 1.00+12 1.00+10 1.00+08 1.00+06 1.00+04 1.00+02 1.00+00 AC G1 G5 Layer Soil Soil

hAC = 50 mm
Estimated Layer Bearing Capacity

Load on Pavement and Response

Stress not in same direction all the time Stress (and strain) directions vary over short period of time Shear stress (and strains) can reverse in one wheel pass)

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Constitutive Modeling Granular Material

The ability to model granular media as a continuum rests on the development of constitutive relationships that relate stress to deformation variables

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Linear Elastic Method

Most well known model is Hookes Law Linear elasticity implies that we work with: Isotropic material
In the study of mechanical properties of materials, "isotropic" means having identical values of a property in all directions Rotational invariance exists in terms of coordinate system in space

Homogenous material
Material properties (i.e. elasticity) are the same throughout the material
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Constitutive Modeling of Granular Materials is Challenging

Granular materials are discrete in nature Their microstructure evolves in the course of deformation Therefore material not isotropic, rather anisotropic And not homogenous but heterogeneous

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Deformation Characteristics
Dilatancy and contractancy
Volumetric changes expressed with dilatancy coefficient: ratio of the velocity normal to the slip line to the velocity at the slip line at a point

Anisotropy Hardening and softening Complex behaviour under cyclic loading Shear band

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Three General Categories of Theories to Model Granular Materials

Continuum approach Length scale large enough so that discrete nature of material can be neglected Multi-scale models Derive a constitutive model for an equivalent medium starting at the micro- or meso-scale Direct simulation Discrete Element Methods Granular Element Method

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Constitutive Model to be used?

Capture some of the main features of granular material behaviour Take into account the effects of micro-structural properties on the overall behaviour of granular material Continuum model derived from micro-scale behaviour Anisotropy is built in Energy due to the rate of distortion is proportional to the rate of volume change (proportionality) Fabric is incorporated into the macro level through distribution function of contact normals Implement at meso-scale. i.e. finite elements

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Definition Fabric
Define the overall anisotropic distribution of granules; their contact forces; the associative voids; and other microstructural parameters which are responsible for the anisotropic behaviour of the granular mass.

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Types of Fabric
Inherent fabric which is due to the initial packing of the particles Induced fabric which is developed during the course of deformation

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Typical DEM Model

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Evolution of Contacts during Deformation Development of Force Chains

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Force Chains

In the early stages of the biaxial test the contact forces become concentrated along a chain of particles (ae) The weaker forces supporting the chain decrease as the assembly dilates (ce) Eventually leading to the collapse of the force chain (f)

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Fabric: Isotropic vs Anisotropic Directional Distribution

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Fabric Evolution
Constant radial stress With increasing axial stress fabric orientation rotates to approach direction of major principal stress (max dev. Stress) Simultaneously magnitude of fabric (contact normals) also increases At post-peak fabric rotation reverses Magnitude of fabric almost constant and further rotation small
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Measured vs Calculated Ex/Ey Ratios

Kim Lyttle Masad (2005)

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Importance of Anisotropy on Asphaltic Materials

Dynamic modulus tests designed to obtain linear viscoelastic characteristics of asphalt Therefore small strains are used With small strains very little, if at all, aggregate mobilisation takes place Inherent anisotropy caused by preferential aggregate orientation does not effect dynamic modulus results Tests can be done in any orientation of the sample

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Variation in Failure with Sample Orientation

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Results Tri-axial Testing

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Results Tri-axial Testing

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Conclusion

The SA Mechanistic Design Method is a wellknown and internationally accepted pavement design method. If it is applied with care by experienced practitioners the resulting designs give good service. However, if the pitfalls are not recognised, the results can be disastrous!