Advanced Modeling for Flexible Pavement Behavior under Dynamical Loadings: Fid-Bau Portal

Advanced Modeling for Flexible Pavement Behavior under Dynamical Loadings

Broutin, M. / Mounier, D. / Fauchet, S.

A dynamical finite elements modeling has been developed by the STAC (French Civil Aviation Technical Center) to improve the analysis of the flexible pavement response under dynamical loadings, typically heavy weight deflectometer (HWD) impulse loadings. The usual analysis methods rely actually on a pseudostatic backcalculation process using the deflection basins implied, which are reconstituted from maximal deflections recorded on each sensor. The dynamical developed method presented in this paper allows on the one hand a more faithful modeling of the pavement behavior under impulse loadings by taking into account the whole applied force signal and all aforementioned parameters neglected in the usual analyses, and on the other hand allows use, for the backcalculation process, of the entire deflection signal. An automated dynamical backcalculation process has been developed, which benefits from the whole time signals. Is has been proven that the backcalculation process using whole time signals is much more robust than the usual ones. The STAC has elaborated guidance for flexible pavements assessments using HWD. It is based on the aforementioned mechanical modeling and backcalculation process. A software called PREDIWARE has been developed. It provides automated creation of the finite element mesh related to the studied pavement, forward calculation of deflections or strains in the pavement, and pseudostatic or dynamic backcalculations. This paper presents first the dynamical modeling and the associated backcalculation process. Then a case study is presented and discussed.