Nonlinear response of transverse joints of airfield pavements

The response of transverse joints of airfield rigid pavements subjected to wheel load is studied. It covers the linear and nonlinear behaviors of the joint by suitably modeling the concrete as elastoviscoplastic and the dowel s with elastoplastic materials. The pavements are assumed to be resting on a Kelvin foundation having no gap in between at any stage. The firmness of soil is included in the study as a parameter in terms of its modulus of sub grade reaction. The static effect of ct tire pressure is assumed as a long duration pulse that is applied suddenly and then rests for a long time. A f ully 3D finite-element software package with an element library, including brick elements, beam-column elements, spring elements, etc., has been devel oped for the study. Newmark's step-by-step predictor-corrector implicit alg orithm is used to solve the dynamic equilibrium equations. The program is v alidated with established test results and then used for other studies rela ting to the distribution of shear force in the dowel group, the load-transf er ratio from loaded slab to unloaded slab through the dowels, etc.