Characteristics of Jointed Rigid Airfield Pavement Using Different Material Parameters and Modeling Techniques

Rigid pavements have been used broadly in airfield constructions. As the pavement design is expected to deliver acceptable performance along its service time under wide-ranging circumstances. The concept of the load transfer is crucial in pavement design procedures. Many researchers investigated rigid pavement in airfields based on the finite element method. Despite the notable enhancement, significant concerns were overlooked. These simplifications to the developed models may affect the results of the developed models and make them unrealistic. Sensitivity studies were carried out to investigate the effect of the material parameters of the pavement layers and explore the effect of modeling techniques on the load transfer indicators. These parameters include the influence of the dynamic damping, the joined influence of aggregate interlock and dowel bars at the joint, separation between concrete and base, the bondage of the interface between the dowels and the surrounding pavement and simulation of the gap between the adjacent slabs at the joint. The development of the three-dimensional model was guided by a set of technical requirements, all of which were met in the final model by using the finite element code ABAQUS (6.13). The verification process presented. Therefore, increases the confidence in its results. Understanding the responses of rigid airfield pavement under such conditions are essential in developing new pavement design procedure and more advanced remedial measure for the present pavements system.