Pavement Engineering

4300:565
Assignment #2
Spring 2014

SUBMITTED BY
Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
Student Id: 2824475
PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Problem 1

Given a flexible pavement surface layer 8 inch thick resting on a semi-

infinite subgrade, compute the surface deflection under the center
of a tire inflated to 90 psi and has a radius of 5 inches using the
Burmister method. The layer moduli are 300 ksi and 15 ksi,
respectively, and  is 0.5 for both.

Solution

Given,
q = 90psi
h1 = 8 inch
a = 5 inch
E1 = 300ksi = 300000psi
E2 = 15ksi = 15000psi


Now,
h1/a = 8/5 =1.6
E1/E2 = 300000/15000 = 20

From figure 2.17 (Huang 2nd Ed., “Pavement Analysis & Design”)

F2 = 0.275

1.5 qa
So, Deflection, w0 = F 2 = 1.5× 90 ×5 × 0.275 = 0.0124 inch =
E2 15000
0.315mm

Problem 2

Given the following flexible pavement structure,

p = 90 psi and a = 5 inches

8” HMA E1 = 300 ksi 1 = 0.35

8” Base E2 = 40 ksi 2 = 0.40

12” Subbase E3 = 20 ksi 3 = 0.45

∞ Subgrade E4 = 10 ksi 4 = 0.50

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Using WinLEA:

a) Compute and plot the vertical deflection, Uz, as a function of radial offset (r) over
the range –3 ft ≤ r ≤ +3 ft at depths (z) of 0, 8, 16 and 28 inches. Comment on your
results.
b) Compute and plot the vertical strain, zz, as a function of radial offset (r) over the
range –3 ft ≤ r ≤ +3 ft at depths (z) of 8, 16 and 28 inches. Comment on your results.
c) Compute and plot the vertical stress, zz, as a function of radial offset (r) over the
range –3 ft ≤ r ≤ +3 ft at depths (z) of 8, 16 and 28 inches. Comment on your results.

Consider using the following r values: 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 18, and 36 inches to cover the range –3
ft ≤ r ≤ +3.

d) On the same graph, compute and plot the vertical and horizontal stresses, zz and
xx, respectively, under the center of the load as a function of depth (z). Comment on
your results.
e) On the same graph, compute and plot the vertical and horizontal strain, zz and xx,
respectively, under the center of the load as a function of depth (z). Comment on
your results.

Consider using the following z values: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7.999, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15.999, 16, 20, 24,
27.999, 28, 36, 44, and 50 inches to cover the whole pavement structure.

Solution

a)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Vertical Deflection with Radial Offset

0.014

0.012

0.010
Deflection (inch)

0.008 Z=0 inch

Z=8 inch
Z=16 inch
0.006 Z=28 inch

0.004

0.002

0.000
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Radial Offset (Inch)

From the graph we can see that the vertical deflection decreases with increasing depth.

b)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Vertical Strain, εzz at varying Depth

0.0004500

0.0004000

0.0003500

0.0003000

0.0002500 Z=8 inch

Z=16 Inch
εzz

0.0002000 Z=28 Inch

0.0001500

0.0001000

0.0000500

0.0000000
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Radial Offset (Inch)

From the graph we can see that the vertical strain decreases with increasing depth.

c)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Vertical Stress at Varying Depths

16.00

14.00

12.00
Vertical Stress (psi)

10.00
Z=8 Inch
8.00 Z=16 Inch
Z=28 Inch
6.00

4.00

2.00

0.00
-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
Radial Offset (Inch)

From the graph we can see that the vertical stress decreases with increasing depth.

d)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Vertical & Horizontal Stresses at Varying Depths

100.00

80.00

60.00

40.00
Stress (psi)

20.00 Vertical Stress

Horizontal Stress
0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
-20.00

-40.00

-60.00

-80.00
Depth(Inch)

From the graph we can see that the vertical stress is compressive & horizontal stress is mostly
tensile.

e)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Vertical & Horizontal Strains at Varying Depths

0.0005000

0.0004000

0.0003000

0.0002000 Vertical Strain

Strain

Horizontal Strain
0.0001000

0.0000000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

-0.0001000

-0.0002000
Depth(Inch)

From the graph we can see that the vertical strain is compressive & horizontal strain is mostly
tensile.

Problem 3

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

For the layered elastic system shown below and given that each tire is inflated to 90 psi
and has a radius of 5 inches,
y (Travel Direction)
x (Transverse Direction)

z
16” 144” 16”

8” AC E1 = 300 ksi 1 = 0.35

8” Base E2 = 40 ksi 2 = 0.40

12” Subbase E3 = 20 ksi 3 = 0.45

∞ Subgrade E4 = 10 ksi 4 = 0.50

a) Determine and plot the tensile strain at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer
(z = 7.999 inch) for the following radial offsets: 0, 2.5, 5, 8, 11, 13.5, 16, 20, 24, and 88
inch. A point having a radial offset of zero is located under the center of the far left
tire.
b) Determine and plot the compressive strain on the top of the subgrade (z = 28.001)
for the following radial offsets: 0, 2.5, 5, 8, 11, 13.5, 16, 20, 24, and 88 inch. A point
having a radial offset of zero is located under the center of the far left tire.
c) Comment on your results regarding the location of the maximum tensile strain and
the maximum compressive strain.
d) Using the Asphalt Institute fatigue cracking and rutting failure criteria presented in
Huang (2004), page 98 (Equations 3.6 and 3.7, respectively), determine the life of the
pavement structure (in years) if the number load repetitions is 50,000 per year.

Solution

All the results were collected using WinLEA

a)

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PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

Tensile Strain at the Bottom of the Asphalt Concrete Layer

0.0000500

0.0000000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

-0.0000500
Tensile Strain

Strain-X
-0.0001000 Strain-Y

-0.0001500

-0.0002000

-0.0002500

Radial Offset (Inch)

b)

Compressive Strain at the Top of the Subgrade

0.0003000

0.0002500

0.0002000
Compressive Strain

0.0001500

0.0001000

0.0000500

0.0000000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

-0.0000500

Radial Offset (Inch)

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 PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (4300:565) Mir Shahnewaz Arefin
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Spring 2014) Student Id:2824475

c) The maximum tensile strain occurred at a radial offset point of 0(Zero) inch i.e. right
beneath the far left tyre and the value is 0.0002010.

The maximum compressive strain occurred at a radial offset point of 8 inch & the value is
0.0002820.

d) We Know, From Equation 3.6

Nf = f 1 (∈t )−f (E1 )−f = 0.0796(0.0002010)−3.291(300000)−0.854
2 3

........... = 0.0796 x 1.466 x 1012 x 2.10 x 10-05

...........
........... = 2452637.1 no. of cycles

So, Life of pavement = 2452637.1/50000 = 49 years

Again From Equation 3.7,

Nd = f4(∈c)-f5
= 1.365 x 10-9 x (0.0002820)-4.477
= 10650436.2 no. of cycles

So, Life of pavement = 10650436.2 /50000 = 213 years

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