Lecture 2:

Stresses in Pavements
Stresses in Layered Systems

 At any point, 9 stresses exist. They are 3

normal stresses (sz, sr, st) and 6 shearing
stresses ( trz = tzr , trt = ttr , and ttz = tzt).
 At each point in the system there exists a
certain orientation of the element such that
the shearing stresses acting on each face
are zero.
 The normal stresses under this condition
are principal stresses and are denoted by
s1 (major), s2 (intermediate) and s3
(minor) principal stresses.
Layered Elastic Models
 Boussinesq Theory
 Layer characterized by E and n.
 Homogeneous, isotropic, stresses and stains determined from a point load on surface of
semi-infinite half-space.
 Further work expanded solutions to uniform, circular load by means of integration over
the loaded area.

 Burmister Theory
 Two-layered system developed in 1940’s.

 Three Layer System

 Developed by Acum and Fox in 1950’s.
 Homogeneous, isotropic, full friction between layers, stresses on centerline only.
 Continuity equation satisfied at interfaces (same vertical stress, shear stress, vertical
displacement, and radial displacement).
 If frictionless, shear stress and radial displacement are zero at interface
Layered Elastic Models (LEM)
Basic Assumptions:
 Eachlayer is homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic
with an elastic modulus of E and Poisson's ratio of n.
 The material is weightless (geostatic stresses are ignored).
 Each layer has a finite thickness, except the lowest layer.
 A uniform pressure is applied over a circular area.
 Interface condition (continuity vs. frictionless).
 Surface shear forces are not present.
Flexible Pavement Responses
 Responses in flexible pavements under the moving traffic loads
are greatly influenced by:

 Type of flexible pavement.

 Ratio of the moduli of various layers.

 Types of flexible pavements:

 Thin HMA over aggregate base

 Thick HMA over aggregate base
 Full depth HMA
 HMA over stabilized base
 HMA over existing HMA or PCC
(similar to composite pavement concept)
Flexible Pavement Model

q
Stresses and Strains in Flexible Pavements
 Function of the following:
 Materialproperties of each layer
 Thickness of each layer
 Loading conditions
 Environmental impact

 Pavement responses generally of interest:

 Surface deflection (represents surface rutting).
 Horizontal tensile strain at bottom of AC layer (controls bottom up fatigue cracking).
 Vertical compressive strain on top of intermediate layer (base or subbase rutting).
 Vertical compressive strain on top of the subgrade (controls subgrade rutting).
Pavement Response Locations
Used in Evaluating Load Effects
One-Layer System
(Boussinesq Equations)
 The original elastic theory published by Boussinesq in 1885.
 For computing stresses and deflections in an elastic half-space material
composed of homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic material.
 Still widely used in soil mechanics and foundation design.
Formulas for Calculating Stresses
under a Circular Loaded Area
Generalized Hook’s Law
Elasticity Equations for the Calculation of Strains
Calculation of the Strains

The equations are only valid along the load centerline.

Deflection Calculations
Calculation of the deflections at different depths along the load centerline:

Surface deflections along the load centerline (@ z=0):

Nature of Responses under
Flexible and Rigid Plates
Flexible plate: Rigid Plate plate:
 Uniform Contact Pressure  Non-Uniform Contact Pressure
 Variable Deflection Profile  Equal Deflection

Flexible Plate Rigid Plate

Stresses under the Rigid Plate
Reminder: Contract stresses are non uniform under a rigid plate.

s0 is the average pressure acting on the rigid plate (such as concrete slab).

P
s0 
 a2
Deflection under the Rigid Plate
Reminder: Deflections are equal under a rigid plate.

s0 is the average pressure acting on the rigid plate (such as concrete slab).

P
s0 
 a2
Comparison of Deflections at the Surface
Rigid vs. Flexible Plate

The deflection under a rigid plate is 79% of that under a flexible plate.
One Layer Systems
 Foster and Ahlvin (1954) developed charts for computing vertical, tangential and
radial stresses. The charts were developed for μ = 0.5.

 This work was subsequently refined by Ahlvin and Ulery (1962) allowing for
evaluation of stresses and strains at any point in the homogenous mass for any μ.

 Due to symmetry, there are only three normal stresses, sz, sr and st and one
shear stress trz.

 One-layer theory can be applied as an approximation for a conventional flexible

pavement with granular base/subbase with a thin asphaltic layer on a stiff
subgrade comparable to the base/subbase. (i.e., E1/E2 ~ 1).

 The deflection that occurs within the pavement layers (Dp) is neglected and
therefore, the pavement surface deflection (DT) is equal to the deflection on the
top of subgrade (Ds):

DT = Dp + Ds , Dp = 0, therefore DT = Ds
Charts for One Layer Solutions
(after Foster and Ahlvin, 1954)
Charts for One Layer Solutions
(after Foster and Ahlvin, 1954)
Charts for One Layer Solutions
(after Foster and Ahlvin, 1954)
Charts for One Layer Solutions
(after Foster and Ahlvin, 1954)
Tables for One-layer Solutions by Ahlvin and Ulery (1962)
Burmister’s Theory of Two-Layer Systems
 As we discussed in the first lecture, one of the primary functions of the
pavements is to protect the subgrade.
 Burmister (1958) obtained solutions for two-layer problem by using
strain continuity equations.
 Based on Burmister’s solutions, vertical stresses are greatly influenced by
the modular ratio (i.e., E1/E2).
 Vertical stress decreases considerably with increase in modular ratio. For
example, based on the plot provided in the next slide:
 for z/a=1 and E1/E2 = 1, sz at interface = 68% of contact pressure.
 for z/a=1 and E1/E2 = 100, sz at interface = 8% of contact pressure.
Burmister’s Solutions
for Vertical Stresses

0.08 0.68
Burmister Solutions for Deflections
 Burmister extended the one-layer solutions to two and three layers in 1958.
 He assumed layers have full frictional contact at the interface and n=0.5.
 Equations and graphs are typically used to calculate the responses under
the load.
 The deflection under flexible plate (w0) for two layer system can be
calculated from the following equation:
1.5 P a
0  F2
E2
P: Load distributed over a circular plate
a: Radius of flexible plate
E1: Modulus of elasticity for the surface layer
E2: Modulus of elasticity of the subgrade
F2: Deflection coefficient
 Burmister’s Solutions for
Surface Deformations
The deflection coefficient (F2) can be estimated from the following graph:
 Burmister’s Solutions for
Vertical Interface Stresses for Two Layer Systems
Three Layer Systems
 Fox and Acum developed closed form
solutions for boundary stresses in the
center of a circular uniformly loaded area.
 They assumed Passion's ratio of 0.5 for all
layers.
 Later Jones and Peattie (1962) expanded
the equations for three layer systems, they
developed graphical solutions of
responses based on the following
parameters:

K1 = E1/E2
K2 = E2/E3 Schematic plot showing the locations
A = a/h2 of the pavement response solutions.
H = h1/h2
 Influence of Layer Thickness on
Vertical Stress Distributions (σz)

K1 = E1/E2=20
K2 = E2/E3=20
A = a/h2
H = h1/h2
 Influence of Modular Ratio K1 on
Vertical Stress Distributions (σz)

K1 = E1/E2
Vertical stress at the bottom of
surface layer decreases as top
K1 = E1/E2 layer stiffness increases
K2 = E2/E3=10
A = a/h2=1
H = h1/h2=1/4 Vertical stress at the top of subgrade
decreases slightly as asphalt layer
stiffness increases
 Influence of Modular Ratio K2 on
Vertical Stress Distributions (σz)

K1 = E1/E2=20
K2 = E2/E3
A = a/h2=1
H = h1/h2=1/4
 Typical Distribution of the Shear Stresses
in Multi-Layer Systems
Influence of (E1/E2)

 Influence of modulus ratio K1 (= E1/E2) on the distribution

of shear stresses.

 K1 =1 represents the Boussinesq’s solution for single layer

system (E1=E2).

 Notice that the increasing modular ratios results in the

maximum shear stress in the top layer, however the shear
stress at interface is inversely related to the modular ratios.
 Typical Distribution of the Shear Stresses
in Multi-Layer Systems
Influence of (a/h1)
 Influence of layer thickness (a/h1) on the distribution
of shear stresses.

 Notice the effect of nonlinearity in shear stresses for very

thin surface layers (higher values of a/h1).

 Both nonlinearity and magnitude of the shear stresses

increase with reduction in surface layer thickness. This is
why very thin asphalt pavements are prone to develop
shear deformations. There is no control for shear
deformation of flexible pavements in any design guide.
 Odemark’s Method of
Equivalent Thickness
Odemark developed a method to transform a system consisted of several layers with
different stiffness properties into one single layer with one modulus value. Elastic-half space
equations such as Boussinesq solutions can be used to calculate the responses under the
wheel load.
 Odemark’s Method of
Equivalent Thickness

Assuming the Passions' ratio of

the two layers to be the same we have:
 Method of Equivalent Thicknesses
(Odemark’s General Equation)

Ei (1  m ) 2
hei  hi  3  i 1
Ei 1 (1  m ) 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
mi = Poisson’s ratio for ith layer
mi+1 = Poisson’s ratio for (i+1)th layer
Odemark Equivalent Layer-Example
 Multi-Layer Systems Responses
 Computer Programs
 WINJULIA
 KENLAYER
 ELSYM5
 LEAP2
 EVERSTRS

 Typical Input
 Material properties: modulus (E) and Poisson's Ratio (n).
 Layer thicknesses.
 Loading conditions: magnitude of axle load, gear configurations, contact
radius (tire footprint), or contact pressure.
 Slip between layers (fully bonded or partially bonded layers).
Limitations of Layered Elastic Models (LEM)
 Effects
of wheel loads applied close to cracks or edges (or joints in
rigid pavements) require asymmetry - not available in LEM.
 Information on slip generally not available – influence can be
dramatic – ( BISAR program accommodates for the slip and inter-
layer shear).
 Geostatic stresses are neglected.
 Vertical
and lateral variation in dynamic or resilient modulus
cannot be accounted for in LEM (Anisotropy).
 Stresses
and strains calculated in unbound materials can be
unreasonable – such as unrealistically high tensile stresses at the
bottom of UAB due to stress sensitivity and anisotropy of the
materials. (more discussion on this will be presented in the lecture
on the characterization of unbound granular materials).
Limitations of Layered Elastic Models (LEM), Cont.
 Layeredelastic method doesn’t account for dynamic nature
of the wheel load.
 LEM represent tire-pavement contact as uniformly loaded,
circular area while research demonstrates that actual contact
area shape varies with loading and tire specifications.
Determination of the Tire Footprint
Vertical Stress Distribution under
Dual Wheel Load
Super Position of Wheel Loads
Example Pavement (6” Base)
Example Pavement (10” Base)
Example Pavement (14” Base)
 Vertical Stress Distributions
Vertical Stress, psi

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0

8
Depth, in

10 Soft Subgrade (4 ksi)

20
12

14 Stiff Subgrade (12 ksi)

16

18

20

22
 Shear Stress in the YZ-plane

Shear Stress, psi

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
0

8
Depth, in

10
Soft Subgrade (4 ksi)
12

14
Stiff Subgrade (12 ksi)
16

18

20

22