EFFICIENT COMPUTATIONAL ALGORITHMS FOR FORWARD AND BACKWARD ANALYSIS OF A DYNAMIC PAVEMENT SYSTEM

A simple dynamic analysis algorithm is presented in this paper for bot h forward and backward calculations of a pavement system consisting of an asphalt concrete layer, underlain by a uniform subgrade to a depth H wherein the bedrock is located. The subgrade soil is represented by a higher-order continuum model-the modified Vlasov model. The asphalt concrete layer is represented by a three-parameter complex compliance function in a frequency domain. The governing equations of the dynami c pavement system, along with the solution algorithms for both forward and backward computations, are presented in detail. A numerical examp le is provided to illustrate the importance of considering dynamic eff ect in predicting pavement response under dynamic load. In addition, n umerical examples are given to demonstrate the use of nondestructive t esting data to back calculate the material properties, such as the mod ulus, damping, creep compliance and fatigue cracking speed for an asph alt concrete layer and the modulus damping for the subgrade layer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.