Stresses and Strains inflexible Pavements

1.0 Layer system concept

Figure 1: Generalized Multi-layer elastic system

1.1 Assumptions in Multilayer Elastic system

 The material properties of each layer are homogeneous,i.eproperty at point Aiis the
same at Bi
 Each layer has a finite thickness except for the lowerlayer, and all are infinite in lateral
directions.
 Each layer is isotropic, that is, the property at a specificpoint such as Aiis the same in
every direction ororientation.
 Full friction is developed between layers at eachinterface.
 Surface shearing forces are not present at the surface.
 The stress solutions are characterized by two materialproperties for each layer, i.e.,
(μ, E).

1.2 Stresses in Layer System

 At any point, 9 stresses exist. They are 3 normal stresses z, t and r and 6 shearing
stresses (rz =zr; r t = tr; tz =zt).
 At each point in the system there exists a certainorientation of the element such that the
shearingstresses acting on each face are zero.
 The normal stresses under this condition are principalstresses and are denoted by s1(major),
s2(intermediate) and s3 (minor).
1.3 Calculation of strains
Given the triaxial state of stress of any element, the strains are calculated from the following
equations.

2.0 Multi-layer solutions

2.1 One layer system
For point load
 If one-layer system is assumed as a homogeneous half space,Boussinesq equations can be
applied. Half space is an infinite large area with infinite depth with a top plane onwhich loads
are applied.
 Boussinesq equations are developed for computing stresses in ahomogeneous, isotropic and
elastic media due to a point load at thesurface.

o Stress is independent of the properties of the transmitting medium.Maximum stress occurs

on the vertical plane passing through the point ofload application, on a particular horizontal
plane.
o Pressure is maximum at shallow depths, theoretically becoming zero atinfinite depth. But, for
all practical purposes, z is taken as zero when z issufficiently large.

For circular load

 Load is not a point load – it is distributed over an elliptical area. The contact area can be
approximated to a circular shape.
 Variation of stress follows the same general pattern
 Vertical stress resulting from uniformly distributed circular load (Figure 2) maybe obtained by
integration of Boussinesq equation.
 Love has obtained the following closed from equation for the verticalstress beneath the
centre of the loaded area.
 Newmarks has developed a chart for foundation work for computing stresses

Where,
σz = Stress at the depth of ‘z’ from the surface
p = Pressure due to circular load
a = Radius of the circular load

Figure 2: One Layer Stress Diagram

Charts developed by Foster and Ahlvin to find stresses in one layer system
 Foster and Ahlvin (1954) developed charts for computing vertical, tangentialand radial
stresses. The charts were developed for μ = 0.5.
 This work was subsequently refined by Ahlvin and Ulery (1962) allowing forevaluation of
stresses and strains at any point (vertical and horizontal distance) in the homogenous mass
foranypoisson’s ratio values of μ.
 Due to axis symmetry, there are only three normal stresses, z, r and tand one shear
stress Ϯrz.
 One-layer theory can be applied as an approximation for a conventionalflexible pavement
with granular base/subbase with a thin asphaltic layer ona stiff subgrade comparable to the
base/subbase. (i.e., E1/E2 @ 1)
 The deflection that occurs within the pavement (∆p) is assumed to be zero andtherefore, the
total pavement surface deflection (∆T) is equal to the deflection onthe top of subgrade(∆s)
only.
 Summary of One-layer Elastic Equations (after Ahlvin and Ulery)

Note: Tables for functions of A to H will be available in Yoder and Witzak text book

Examples on one layer system

1) A homogeneous half space is subjected to a circularload, 254 mm in diameter. The pressure
on the circulararea is 345 kPa. The half space has an elasticmodulus of 69 MPa and a
Poisson's ratio of 0.5.Determine the vertical stress, strain and deflection atpoint A, which is
located 254 mm below and 508 mmaway from the centre.

2) Given the following data for the pavement shown in the figure,compute the deflection at
point m, zand εr at point o and 1,2,3 and Ϯmax at point p.
a= 152 mm; p = 552 kPa
h1=254 mm; E1 = 173 MPa; μ1 = 0.35E2 = 110 MPa; μ2 = 0.4
 Coordinates of points:
m: (z=0, r=0) o: (z=457, r=305) p: (z=457, r=0)

2.2 Two Layer System

2.2.1 Burmister Two Layer system
2.2.1.1 Assumptions
 The materials in the layers are assumed to be homogeneous, isotropic and elastic
 The surface layer is assumed to be infinite in extent in the lateral direction but of
finite depth
 The underlying layer is infinite both in horizontal and vertical directions
 Full friction is developed between layers at eachinterface.
2.2.1.2Vertical stress in two layer system
The following chart was developed by Burmister to find the stress in two layer system
(Figure 3).

Figure 3: Basic pattern of Burmister two-layer stress influence curves

 The effect of layers above subgrade is to reduce the stress and deflections in the subgrade.
 Burmister (1958) obtained solutions for two-layer problem by using strain continuity
equations.
 Vertical stress depends on the modular ratio (i.e., E1/E2)
 Vertical stress decreases considerably with increase in modular ratio.
 For example, for h/a=1 and E1/E2= 1, stress at interface = 70% of contact pressure, for h/a 1=1
and E1/E2 = 100, z at interface = 8% of contact pressure (Figure 3).

2.2.1.3 Vertical Surface Deflection in a TwolayerSystem

 Burmister (1958) developed a chart for computingvertical surface deflection in a two-layer
system (Figure 4).
  The deflection factor, F2, is obtained from thechart based on the values of h/a and
E2/E1.Then the deflection is computed from the following equations:

Figure 4: Influence Values Two layer theory

2.2.1.4 Interface Deflection in Two layer System
 Huang (1969) developed charts for interface deflection in a two-layer system.
 Charts are prepared for varying E1/E2 values. The interface deflection factor, F, is obtained
from thechart based on the values ofE1/E2, h/a and r/a (Figure 6).
 The interface deflection (∆s) is then found from

 The deflection that takes place within the pavement (∆p)is given by

Where ∆p = Total deflection and ∆s = Deflection on the subgrade

 Figure 6 : Charts to find the interface deflection Factor F

Example Problems in Two Layer System

1) Calculate the surface deflection under the centre of a tyre (a = 152 mm, p =552 kPa) for a
305 mm pavement having a 345 MPa modulus and subgrade modulus of 69 MPa from two-
layer theory. Also calculate the interface deflection and the deflection that takes place within
the pavement layer.

2) A circular load with a radius of 152 mm and a uniform pressure of 552 kPa is applied on a
two-layer system. The subgrade has an elastic modulus of 35 kPa and can support a
maximum vertical stress of 55 kPa. What is the required thickness of full depth AC pavement,
if AC has an elastic modulus of 3.45 GPa. Instead of a full depth AC pavement, if a thin
surface treatment is applied on a granular base (with elastic modulus of 173 MPa), what is
the thickness of base course required?

3) A plate bearing test was conducted using 750 mm diameter rigid plate on a subgrade as well
as on 254 mm thick gravel base course. The unit load required to cause settlement of 5 mm
was 69 kPa and 276 kPa, respectively. Determine the required thickness of base course to
sustain a 50 kN tyre, 690 kPa pressure and maintain a deflection of 5 mm.

2.3 Three Layer System

 Fox and Acum produced the first extensive tabular summary of normal and radial stresses in
three-layer systems at the intersection of the plate axis with the layer interfaces(Figure 7).
 Jones (1962) and Peattie (1962) subsequently expanded these solutions to a much wider
range of solution parameters
 Figure 7: Three layer system showing location of Stresses

 Stresses in a three layer system depend on the following ratios:

 Jones (1962) presented a series of tables for determiningz1, z1-r1, z2, z2 - r2, z2 -
r,

Computation of stresses from Jones Tables

 Charts and Tables presented by Jones (1962) for these parameters

 Interpolation of stress factors is allowed for any other values but, no extrapolation is
allowed. The stresses are then

 Form the stresses, the horizontal tensile strain is at the bottom of the bitumen layer is
Example Problem in Three Layer System
Given the three layer system shown in figure, determine all the stresses and strains at the two
interfaces on the axis of symmetry.