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WESLEA Help file

Reformatted from the original HELP file by Luis R. Vásquez-Varela, PhD (c). National University of Colombia,
Manizales Campus, 2016.

1 WESLEA for Windows-General Procedure

WESLEA for Windows is a mechanistic pavement analysis program that can calculate pavement response to
applied tire loads. Pavement response is defined in terms of stress, strain, and displacement. The pavement
response may then be used to predict the pavement life with respect to fatigue or rutting. The following outline
describes the general procedure for using the program.

First select a system of units to work in. WESLEA for Windows always begins in English units, but the user may
select SI (Metric) from the Units menu.

There are three main types of inputs that must be entered by the user.
Structure
Load Conditions
Evaluation

The drop-down main menu gives access to each of the input screens, as shown below.

After entering the inputs, select View Output from the Output drop down menu.

If a standard load configuration was selected, the pavement life has all ready been determined.

If a non-standard load configuration (Other)ÿwas chosen, the pavement life must be determined manually. Find
the maximum tensile strain at the bottom of the first layer and enter this into the fatigue performance equation.
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Find the maximum vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade and enter this into the rutting performance
equation.

2 Changes from Version 2.0

Two primary changes have been made since Version 2.0.

Change 1:ÿIn the output dialog box, there is now a button (shown below) to directly view the transfer functions.

Change 2:ÿThe exported data file now contains the fatigue and rutting life calculations in addition to the transfer
functions used in the calculation.

3 Structure
3.1 Pavement Structure Inputs

This dialog box defines the pavement structure to be analyzed. The particular inputs are outlined below.

Select the number of layers.

For each pavement layer, specify

Material Type
Modulus
Poisson’s Ratio
Thickness
Slip Condition
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3.1.1 Material Type

Select the type of material to be used in each layer. Each material has an associated range ofÿmodulus and
Poisson’s ratio.

Abbreviation Name
AC Asphalt Concrete
PCC Portland Cement Concrete
GB Granular Base
Soil Soil
Rock Rock
Other Other

3.1.2 Modulus

The modulus represents the stiffness of the material expressed in psi. When a material is selected, a range of moduli and an optimum
value are chosen by the program. Any value within the range may be used for the modulus.

Material Minimum Modulus, psi 80,000 Default Modulus, psi Maximum Module:
AC 2,000,000 5,000 500,000 4,000,000 2,000,000
PCC 20,000 7,000,000 50,000
GB psi
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Material Minimum Modulus, psi 3,000 500,000 Default Modulus, psi 12,000 Maximum Module:
Soil 500 4,000,000 1,000,000 30,000
Rock 1,000,000
Other 10,000,000 . psi

Material Minimum Modulus, MPa Default Modulus, MPa Maximum Modulus, MPa 552 13,790 35 21
AC 3,447 13,790
PCC 27,579 48,263
G.B. 138 83 345
Soil 207
Rock 3,447 6,845 27,579
Other 3 6,895 68,948

3.1.3 Poisson’s Ratio

Poisson’s ratio is a material property that describes how it deforms. By definition, Poisson’s ratio is:

ÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿ

When a material is selected, a range and default values are chosen. Any value within the range for the material may be used.

Material Minimum Poisson Default Poisson Maximum Poisson

AC 0.15 0.35 0.40
PCC 0.14 0.18 0.25
GB 0.35 0.4 0.45
Soil 0.20 0.45 0.50
Rock 0.10 0.15 0.25
Other 0.10 0.35 0.50

3.1.4 Thickness

The thickness of each layer must be specified in terms of inches. By default, layers not used in the problem will have a thickness of 999 inches (2,537

cm) to simulate and infinite amount of material. When choosing number of layers greater than the previous number, be sure to change the heights

of the new layers from 999 (2,537) in.

3.1.5 Slip Condition

This parameter describes the interface between two layers.

Slip = 1 Full Adhesion (No slip).

Slip = 0 No Adhesion (Full Slip) .

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4 Loads

The wheel loads applied to the pavement are expressed in terms of a particular wheel configuration. Due to the symmetry
of most axles, only half the axle needs to be modeled as shown below.

There are four standard load configurations. The fifth configuration (Other) must be entered manually. Choosing a standard
configuration will automatically define the number of tires in the configuration and their spacing.

Single Tandem Tridem Steer Other

The total number of load applications should be entered.

Each tire requires a load magnitude, tire pressure, x location,ÿand y-location. Checking the UNIFORM boxes will apply the
load or pressure shown to all tires in the configuration. Deselecting the UNIFORM boxes allows for different loads and
pressures to be entered.

The load identifier, shown below, indicates which tire in the configuration the load magnitude, tire pressure, and x, y
locations are referencing.

Use the Next or Previous load buttons to view each load in the configuration.
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4.1 Load types

4.1.1 Single Axle with Dual Tires

Tire Spacing and Critical Locations in Plan View.

4.1.2 Tandem Axle with Dual Tires

Tire Spacing and Critical Locations in Plan View.

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4.1.3 Tridem Axle with Dual Tires

Tire Spacing and Critical Locations in Plan View.

4.1.4 Steer Axle with Single Tires

Tire Spacing and Critical Locations in Plan View.

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4.1.5 Other

This selection requires the load information to be manually entered. The steps below outline the process and
provide some guidance in constructing a configuration. It may be helpful to first draw a sketch of the proposed
configuration prior to entering the information into WESLEA for Windows.

Step 1. Enter the number of tires in the configuration(maximum of 20).

Step 2.ÿEnter the total number of load applications.

Step 3. Enter the following for each tire.

X-location
Y-location
Load magnitude
Tire pressure

Step 4. Click on <OK> to verify input.

Step 5.ÿ Choose Evaluation from the Input menu and enter the critical locations for the specified wheel
configuration.

Step 6. Choose View Output from the Output menu.

4.2 Total Number of Load Applications

This value refers to the total number of repeated applications of the specified wheel configuration that the
pavement will experience. This value is used inMiner’s Hypothesis to estimate damage.
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For example, say that 2 million tandem axles are expected to be applied during the life of the pavement
during the summer condition. A value of 2 million should then be entered as shown below.

4.3 Load Magnitude

The load magnitude represents the weight on each tire, expressed in pounds of force. For example, an
18,000 lb. (80 kN) single axle with 4 tires would have 4,500 lb. (20 kN) per wheel.

4.4 Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is usually assumed to be the tire inflation pressure. A current (1997) typical value for truck
tires is 100 psi (690 kPa).

Tire pressure is used within WESLEA for Windows to calculate the contact area between the tire and road.
The area is assumed to be circular and is found by:

ÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿ ÿ
ÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ

4.5 Coordinate System in WESLEA for Windows

X and Y define the horizontal plane.

Z defines the vertical position in the pavement. Positive Z is downward.
X is defined transversely across the pavement (perpendicular to traffic).
Y is defined longitudinally across the pavement (parallel to traffic).
The origin is placed directly beneath the first wheel load in the configuration.
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5 Critical Locations

This dialog box specifies the critical locations in the pavement. Stress, strain, and deflection will be determined
at these locations for the given set of loading and structural conditions.

In general, the vertical locations of interest are at the bottom of the first layer and the top of the subgrade. The
figure below illustrates these locations. The horizontal tensile strain at the bottom of layer 1 is used to predict
fatigue. The vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade is used to predictrutting.

The x, y locations are usually specified directly beneath tires and at the midpoint between tires. These locations
will generally yield the greatest strain and experience the most damage.

If a standard load configuration was selected (single, tandem, tridem, steer), the evaluation locations are all ready
given by default.

If a non-standard configuration was entered (Other), the critical locations must be specified.

Entering Critical Locations

5.1 Fatigue

Fatigue cracks form as a result of repeated tensile stresses and strains at the bottom of the first pavement layer.
The fatigue life may be used in Miner’s Hypothesis to estimate fatigue damage. An equation developed at the
University of Illinois was modified using Mn/ROAD fatigue crack data to predict number of repeated loads until
fatigue failure. The equation is:

ÿÿÿ

ÿÿÿÿ 2.83×10 ÿ6( ÿ)ÿ.ÿ4ÿ Mn/ROAD Fatigue Equation

ÿÿ

Where:
Nfÿÿ= number of repeated loads under current structural conditions before a fatigue crack
will form. ÿt = maximum horizontal tensile strain at bottom of first layer caused by one pass of current wheel
configuration, expressed in microstrain.
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5.2 Rutting

In WESLEA for Windows, rutting is attributed to stresses applied to the subgrade. The rutting life may be used in
Miner’s Hypothesis to estimate rutting damage. An equation was developed using Mn/ROAD pavement
performance data that predicts rutting of 20 mm (0.5 inch):

ÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿ 1.0×10 ÿ6( ÿ)ÿ.ÿ7 Mn/ROAD Rutting Equation
ÿÿ

Where:
Nfÿÿ= number of repeated loads under current structural conditions before rutting failure will
occur. ÿv = maximum vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade caused by one pass of current wheel
configuration, expressed in microstrain.

5.3 Miner’s Hypothesis

Miner’s Hypothesis is usedÿ to estimate accumulated pavement damage. As shown below, it is simply the
summation of the applied number of loads over the allowable number of loads.

ÿ ÿÿÿ ÿÿ
ÿ=ÿ ÿÿÿ

Where:
D= accumulated damage.
ni = number of repeated load applications in condition i.
Nfi = number of allowable repetitions in condition i calculated from fatigue or rutting performance equations.
M = number of groups of different loads.

D should be calculated in terms of fatigue and rutting for each set of structural and tire load configuration
conditions.

Failure in a particular mode occurs when D = 1. In other words, failure is defined as the number of applied loads
exceeding the number of allowable loads.

5.4 Entering Critical Locations

To enter locations manually, deselect the Standard Locations box as shown below.
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Enter the number of locations to evaluate. A maximum of 50 locations is permitted. This group also
indicates which location is currently shown.

Each location requires a layer number and an x, y, z coordinate.

Use the Next and Previous buttons to view each location’s data.

5.5 Strain Sign Convention

The sign convention for strain in WESLEA for Windows is:

- microstrain = tension.
+ microstrain = compression.

Maximum Horizontal Tensile Strain

Therefore, the maximum horizontal tensile strain at the bottom of the first layer is the most negative strain
value in the x or y direction. This value would be entered as a POSITIVE number into the fatigue performance equation.

Maximum Vertical Compressive

Strain The maximum compressive vertical strain at the top of the subgrade is the most positive strain value
in the z direction. This value would be entered as a POSITIVE number into the rutting performance equation.

6 Output

This dialog box contains the output of the WESLEA mechanistic analysis. The Location Identifier group
specifies how many total critical locations were input and indicates which location is currently displayed.
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The Location Data group indicates the layer and x, y, z coordinate of the current location.

The Location Control buttons may be used to view each location specified.

The Model Output group contains the pavement response data for the current location.

The Pavement Life group indicates the number of applied loads,ÿthe number of allowable loads by fatigue or
rutting,ÿand the relative damage (Miner’s Hypothesis).

The Export Data button allows the data to be exported in a tab-delimited format.

6.1 Model Output

Normal Stress
Pavement stress due to the applied loading condition (psi or kPa). Sign Convention
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Normal MicroStrain
Pavement strain due to the applied loading condition. Sign Convention

Displacement
Pavement displacement due to the applied loading condition (milli-in. or micrometer). Sign Convention

Shear Stress
Pavement shear stress due to the applied loading condition (psi or kPa). Sign Convention

6.1.1 Stress Sign Convention

The sign convention for normal stress in WESLEA for Windows is:
- stress = tension.
+ stress = compression.

The figure below illustrates the positive stress condition on an element in addition to positive displacements:

6.1.2 Displacement Sign Convention

Displacements are positive along their respective axes as shown in the figure:
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6.2 Export Data

Enter the path filename in the edit control box. The browse button may be used to easily select the
desired drive and filename. Providing the extension “.xls” will allow the file to be opened in Excel.
However, the file is just tab-delimited and can be opened in any type of spreadsheet or text editor. Note
that WESLEA for Windows will not open Excel automatically, the user needs to do this and then open the exported da