Date Approved
2-23-2005
Embargo Period
4-19-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Civil Engineering
Department
Civil & Environmental Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Funder
Federal Aviation Administration
Advisor
Sukumaran, Beena
Subject(s)
Finite element method; Pavements, Flexible--Analysis
Disciplines
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of using finite element modeling for analyzing the performance of flexible pavement. The study is deemed necessary because of the complexity of the landing gears and heavy loads imposed by heavier and bigger aircraft, like the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.
The development of the finite element model required a finite element mesh design study and two verification studies conducted to show that the material properties and material models used in the study gave a good representation of the individual soil and also the response of the pavement structure.
The dynamic analysis which modeled the aircraft landing gear determined that pavements with less than 30 inches of pavement structure over the subgrade will result in high levels of stress on the subgrade and adding additional subbase has diminishing returns in improving the pavement performance. The elastic response of the pavement does not supply a good representation of the permanent behavior. When moving wheel loads with wander was considered greater stresses and strains were seen in the subgrade and the field of influence increased.
The results from this study will aid in the design procedures used when designing flexible airport pavements and help in developing a process for validation of finite element models.
Recommended Citation
Willis, Michael L., "Three-dimensional finite element modeling as a tool for flexible pavement design and analysis" (2005). Theses and Dissertations. 1096.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1096
