Three-Dimensional Finite Element Modelling of Sealed and Unsealed Roads Considering Effects of Moving Wheel Loads

Accurate simulation of the response of sealed and unsealed roads to moving wheel loads is essential for improving the current understanding of their behaviour. A proper evaluation of the stress distribution within different pavement layers under moving loads is essential for their appropriate design. This article presents the findings of three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analyses carried out on sealed and unsealed roads, taking into account the effects of moving wheel loads. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of variables, such as the elastic modulus of pavement layers, on the performance of both sealed and unsealed roads. The results reveal that the peak values of vertical stress at the subgrade top under moving wheel load are more sensitive to the base modulus for the unsealed road than the sealed roads, which is due to the structural difference between the two road types. The results predicted using FE models are also compared with those from the approach commonly used by practising engineers. The findings from this study demonstrate the capability of 3D FE method in evaluating critical responses of sealed and unsealed roads under moving wheel loads, which are crucial for optimising their design.