THREE-DIMENSIONAL FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF AIRFIELD PAVEMENT SUBJECTED TO MOVING WHEEL LOADS

Abstract

This paper discusses the dynamic response of airfield pavement subjected to aircraft wheel loading, using the finite element method to determine the response of the system. A 3D finite element program for dynamic analysis in time domain has been developed using Newmark integration scheme for the discretization in time domain. The dynamic response to moving aircraft wheel loads is investigated and the influences of moving load speed, thickness of asphalt layer and wheel configurations on the response are studied. The comparisons of pavement responses were also conducted for static, moving as well as impulsive forces.