FLEXIBLE BOUNDARY IN FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF PAVEMENTS

The finite-element method is finding increasing use in the structural analysis of pavements. In pavement analysis, very deep finite-element meshes need to be used to satisfactorily model the infinitely deep subgrade layer. Programs require large amounts of computer memory and computational time. A scheme is developed in this paper to overcome the computational burden imposed by the requirement of a deep bottom boundary in the finite-element analysis of pavements. A flexible boundary, which accounts for displacements that occur beneath it, is used with finite elements above it. Through case studies it is shown that the method yields accurate solutions. The results are much better than those from a traditional finite-element approach requiring approximately the same amount of computational effort. The proposed method possesses significant advantages over the traditional approach, especially in nonlinear analysis.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1207/1207-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FLEXIBLE+BOUNDARY+IN+FINITE-ELEMENT+ANALYSIS+OF+PAVEMENTS&author=R.+Harichandran&author=M.+Yeh&publication_year=1988
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/03090477730
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1207, Pavement Design. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Harichandran, Ronald S
  • Yeh, Ming-Shan
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 50-60
• Monograph Title: Pavement design
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1207
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Calculation; Case studies; Finite element method; Nonlinear systems; Pavements; Structural analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computation; Nonlinearity
• Old TRIS Terms: Flexible boundary
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00490200
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090477730
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 31 1989 12:00AM