Stress and Strain

in Pavements
By
Haiping Zhou, MACTEC E&C Inc.

For
CSU, Chico, CIVL 581 Transportation Pavements
September 14, 2006
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Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
 3

Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
 4

Stress
 Force per unit area

 Load P
=
Area A
 Units: MPa, psi, ksi
 Types: bearing, shearing, axial
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Strain
 Ratio of deformation caused by load to the
original length of material

Change in Length L
Original Length =
L

 Units: Dimensionless
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Stiffness

 Stiffness = stress/strain =

 For elastic materials:
Stress, 

 Modulus of Elasticity
E  Elastic Modulus
 Young’s Modulus
1

Strain, 
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Stress vs. Strain of a Material in

Compression
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Poisson’s Ratio
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Typical Modulus (E) Values

Material E (psi)
Rubber 1,000
Wood 1,000 – 2,000,000
Aluminum 10,000,000
Steel 30,000,000
Diamond 170,000,000
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Typical Modulus Values

Material Range (ksi) Typical (ksi)

HMA 200 - 800 450

PCC 3,000 - 8,000 4,000
ATB 70 - 450 150
CTB 500 - 1,000 700
Lean concrete 1,000 - 3,000 1,500
Granular base 14 - 50 30
Granular soil 7 - 22 15
Fine-grained soil 3 - 10 4
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Typical E Values – Asphalt

Concrete

Material E (psi)
Asphalt concrete (32F) 2,000,000
Asphalt concrete (70F) 500,000
Asphalt concrete (120F) 20,000
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Typical Poisson’s Ratios

Material Range Typical

PCC 0.10 - 0.20 0.15
HMA / ATB 0.15 - 0.45 0.35
Cement Stab. 0.15 - 0.30 0.20
Base
Granular 0.30 - 0.40 0.35
Base / Subbase
Subgrade Soil 0.30 - 0.50 0.40
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Deflection ()
 Change in length
 Deformation
 Units: mm, mils (0.001 in)


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Structural Response Models

 Different analysis methods for AC and PCC

AC PCC Slab

Base
Subgrade
Subgrade
• Layered system behavior • Slab action predominates
• All layers carry part of load • Slab carries most load
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Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
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Flexible Pavement Model

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Layered Elastic Systems

 The basic assumptions:
 Each layer is homogeneous, isotropic, and
linearly elastic with an elastic modulus and 
 The material is weightless
 Each layer has a finite thickness, except the
lowest layer
 A uniform pressure is applied over a circular area
 Interface condition (continuity vs frictionless)
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Pavement Response Locations

Used in Evaluating Load Effects
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Stresses and Strains in Flexible

Pavements
 Function of the following:
 Materialproperties of each layer
 Thickness of each layer
 Loading conditions

 Pavement responses generally of interest:

 Surface deflection
 Horizontal tensile strains at bottom of AC layer
 Vertical compressive strain on top of intermediate layer (base
or subbase)
 Vertical compressive strain on top of the subgrade
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One-Layer System (Boussinesq)

 The original elastic theory published by
Boussinesq in 1885
 For computing stresses and deflections in a
half-space (soil) composed of homogeneous,
isotropic, and linearly elastic material
 Still widely used in soil mechanics and
foundation design
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One-Layer System
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One-Layer System
(Cylindrical Coordinates)
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Formulas for Calculating

Stresses
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Two-Layer System
(Burmister)
 Burmister extended the one-layer
solutions to two and three layers in 1943
 Assumed layers have full frictional contact
at the interface and =0.5
 Equation and graphs are used to compute
deflection
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Two-Layer System
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Two-Layer System
Displacement coefficient Iz
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Two-Layer System
Vertical stress influence coefficient z/p, for a=h
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Multi-Layer System
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Method of Equivalent
Thicknesses (General Equation)

Ei (1   ) 2
hei  hi  3  i 1
Ei 1 (1   ) i
2

hei = calculated equivalent thickness for ith layer

hi = layer thickness for ith layer
Ei = modulus for ith layer
Ei+1 = modulus for (i+1)th layer
i = Poisson’s ratio for ith layer
i+1 = Poisson’s ratio for (i+1)th layer
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Formulas for Calculating

Stresses
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Multi-Layer System
 Computer programs
 KENLAYER
 ELSYM5
 LEAP2
 EVERSTRS

 Typical input
 Material properties: modulus and 
 Layer thickness
 Loading conditions: magnitude of load, radius, or
contact pressure
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Resilient Modulus vs. Bulk Stress for

Unstablized Coarse Grained Materials
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Resilient Modulus vs. Deviator

Stress for Unstablized Fine Grained
Materials
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Pavement Response Locations

Used in Evaluating Load Effects
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Example AC Fatigue Criterion

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Example Subgrade Strain

Criterion for Rutting
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Example Pavement (6” Base)

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Example Pavement (10” Base)

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Example Pavement (14” Base)

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Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
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Stresses in Rigid Pavements

 Warping stresses
 Locations: edge; interior; corner
 Wheel load related stresses
 Location: edge; interior; corner
 Shrinkage/expansion stresses
 Other stresses
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Warping Stress - Day Time

(Slab surface temp>bottom temp)
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Warping Stress - Night Time

(Slab bottom temp>surface temp)
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Constrained Transverse Joints

(Slab surface temp>bottom temp)
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Warping Stress - Edge

By Bradbury
Where:
t = slab edge warping stress (psi)
E= modulus of elasticity of PCC (psi)
e= thermal coefficient of PCC (~0.000005/F)
T = temperature differential between the top and
bottom of the slab (F)
C = coefficient, function of slab length and the
radius of relative stiffness, L
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Radius of Relative Stiffness

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Warping Stresses Coefficient

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Warping Stress - Interior

By Bradbury
Where:
t = slab interior warping stress (psi)
E= modulus of elasticity of PCC (psi)
e= thermal coefficient of PCC (~0.000005/F)
= Poisson’s ratio for PCC
C1 = coefficient in direction of calculation
C2 = coefficient in direction perpendicular to C1
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Warping Stress - Corner

By Bradbury
Where:
t = corner warping stress (psi)
E= modulus of elasticity of PCC (psi)
e= thermal coefficient of PCC (~0.000005/F)
DT = temperature differential between the top and bottom of
the slab (F)
= Poisson’s ratio for PCC
a= radius of wheel load distribution for corner load
L= radius of relative stiffness
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Load Stress - Westergaard

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Load Stress - Westergaard

Where:
W = wheel load (lb)
h = slab thickness (in.)
a = radius of wheel contact area (in.)
L = radius of relative stiffness (in.)
b = radius of resisting section (in.)
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Load Stress - Westergaard

Where:
b= equivalent radius of resisting section (in.)
a= radius of wheel contact area (in.), and
h= slab thickness (in.)
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Slab Expansion/Contraction

Where:
z= joint opening (or change in slab length, in.)
C = base/slab frictional restrain factor (0.65 for stabilized
bases; 0.80 for granular bases)
L= slab length (in.)
e = PCC coefficient of thermal expansion by aggregate
type (e.g., 6.0x10-6/F for gravel; 3.8x10-6/F for limestone)
t = the maximum temperature range
= shrinkage coefficient of concrete (e.g., 0.00045
in./in. for indirect tensile strength of 500 psi)
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Westergaard’s Model of
Subgrade Reaction
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Slab Deflection to a Load

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Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
 57

Determination of Modulus
 Laboratory tests
 Boundmaterials
 Unbound materials
 Field tests
 Destructivetests
 Non-destructive test
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Stiffness

 Stiffness = stress/strain =

 For elastic materials:
Stress, 

 Modulus of Elasticity
E  Elastic Modulus
 Young’s Modulus
1

Strain, 
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Resilient Modulus Test

Axial Compression

 Used primarily for Load

Ram
testing of bound Load
Cell
materials
(prepared Gage Length LVDT
specimens or core
samples) OEM, Inc. © 2000

 Heavier duty test equipment is used

to measure compressive strength
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Coring
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Core Samples
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Pavement Core
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Resilient Modulus Test

Triaxial Compression
Used primarily for
testing of unbound
materials
(re-compacted
specimens or push
tube samples)
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Hveem Resistance Test

(R-value)
v  Stiffness measure for
unbound materials
150
mm  Standard axial stress
h (v) is applied
 R-value is basically the
ratio of the applied
vertical pressure (v) to
the developed lateral
100 mm
pressure (h)
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California Bearing Ratio

(CBR) Test
50 mm
diameter  Strength measure for
piston unbound materials
 Piston advanced at 1.3
mm / min. rate
180 Saturated
 Measure load at 2.5
mm Specimen mm penetration (P2.5)
 CBR = 100(P2.5/Pstd)

150 mm
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Estimation of Elastic Modulus of

PCC (ACI 318)
Ec = (Wc)1.5 (33)(fc)0.5

Where:
Ec = Static elastic modulus, psi
Wc = Unit weight of PCC, pcf (90-155)
fc = Specified compressive strength for 6”x12”
cylinders (<6000 psi, normally 28-day cure)
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Estimation of Elastic Modulus of

PCC (ACI 318)
Ec = 57,000(fc)0.5

Where:
Ec = Static elastic modulus, psi
fc = Specified compressive strength for
6”x12” cylinders
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Plate Bearing Tests

Direct measurement of
static, elastic k-value:
• new alignment:
on subgrade soil
• existing alignment:
remove surface and
base
• rarely used today
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Plate Load Test for k-Value

AASHTO T222
Three steel plates

k = p/
Where: p = applied pressure of 30” plate
 = measured deflection of 30” plate
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Distribution of Wheel Load

Wheel
Load

Hot-mix asphalt
Base

Subbase

Natural soil
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Pavement Responses Under Load

Axle
Load

Surface SUR  SUR

Base/Subbase SUB
Subgrade Soil
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Measurement of Surface Deflection

NDT
Load NDT Sensors
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Typical FWD Equipment

Dynatest KUAB

JILS Other:
Phoenix
 74

Simple Backcalculation Case

P

b
δ
PL3 bh3
δ I=
L/2 48EI 12
L
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Backcalculation
Typical Pavement Case
NDT Load Layer
r Characteristics

Surface E1 1 D1

Base /
E2 2 D2
Subbase
Subgrade E3 3
Soil 
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Backcalculation Programs
 BISDEF MODCOMP
 ELSDEF BOUSDEF
 CHEVDEF ELMOD
 MODULUS EVERCALC
 COMDEF ILLI-BACK
 WESDEF
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Outline
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
 78

KENPAVE Software
 Four separate programs
 LAYERINP
 KENLAYER
 SLABSINP
 KENSLABS
 Program installation - CD
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KENLAYER Program
 Solution for an elastic multilayer system
under a circular load; superposition
principles were used for multiple wheels
 Linear elastic, nonlinear elastic, or
viscoelastic
 Damage analysis up to 12 periods
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KENSLABS Program
 Based on the finite element method, in
which the slab is divided rectangular finite
elements
 Can be applied to a maximum of 6 slabs, 7
joints, and 420 nodes
 Damage analysis up to 12 periods
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KENSLABS Numbering Method

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KENLAYER Demonstration
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Summary
 What is stress and strain?
 Stress and strain in flexible pavements
 Stresses in rigid pavements
 Determination of modulus
 KENPAVE software
 85

Thank You for Your Attention!

Questions?