Pavement analysis for moving aircraft load

A finite-element analysis was conducted of flexible pavement test sections subjected to a moving aircraft tire. The test sections failed primarily as a result of shear in the base course. Excavation of the test sections at the end of the tests revealed that there was transverse shear how of the base as a result of repetitive loading. Deflections at various depths were recorded with multidepth deflectometers. These deflections were used to calibrate the finite-element model. Subsequently, excellent agreement was obtained between measured and predicted time histories of deflections at the various depths. Also, excellent agreement was obtained between predicted and accumulated rutting. The analysis predicted that the shear stress in the base would equal the shear strength, which confirms the mode of failure observed in the test sections.