Comparative analysis of stress distributions and displacements in rigid and flexible pavements via finite element method

In many countries of the world, rigid and flexible pavements are widely used. Some of the external factors such as stresses and displacements play major role in the design of pavement layers such as coating, base and sub-base. Although empirical formulas and methods were used in the calculation and design of the pavement layers, complexity of today's transportation engineering demands effectiveness of the empirical formulas were diminished. Nowadays complex problems can be easily simulated and solved thanks to the higher analysis capabilities of the computer-aided softwares. In this study, the stress distributions and displacements were examined under traffic loads in rigid and flexible pavements with different coating layer thicknesses (30 mm, 50mm, 70mm, 100 mm, and 150 mm) by using finite element method. As a result, the vertical displacement in the flexible pavements were obtained as 5% higher than the vertical displacement in the rigid pavements. Based on the stress distribution results, the stress values of flexible pavements were 60% lower than the stress values of the rigid pavements. Moreover, It was determined that the stresses in the rigid pavements remain in the coating layer, while the stresses in the flexible pavements reach the base and sub-base. In addition, regression models have been developed to predict stress and displacements by using layer thicknesses. High correlation and determination coefficient values (> 0.90) were achieved based on the regression analysis both in flexible and rigid pavements.