Asphalt Pavement Analysis with 3-D FEM Model Using Actual Tire Pavement Contact Stresses Measured with Pressure Mapping System Device

The load of the vehicle is transferred to the pavement through tires. Conventionally, the contact pressures are assumed to be uniformly distributed over a circular contact area. This assumption might lead to early deterioration as the stresses that are applied to the pavement are underestimated. This research aims to develop a method to analyze the actual tire-pavement contact stresses on asphalt pavement behavior in 3D FEM by using pressure mapping system device, Tekscan I-Scan. It allows indicating the precise position as well as the magnitude of the stresses applied to the pavement. The contact stresses data were processed with the help of a numerical computing tool, MATLAB. The processed data were then analyzed using 3D FEM software, ANSYS, in order to study the pavement responses. As a result, the method is successfully provided a better understanding of the effect of actual tire-pavement contact stresses on asphalt pavement responses.