Finite Element Model-Based Behavior Evaluation of Pavement Stiffness Influence on Shallowly Buried Precast Arch Structures Subjected to Vehicle Load
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. FEA Model of Studied BPAS
2.2. Material Model
2.3. Contact Surface and Joint Model
3. Pavement Structure and Vehicle Load
4. Results and Discussions
4.1. Response of Segmental Arch
4.2. Liveload Attenuation in Backfill Material
4.3. Influence of Backfill Material
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- The vehicle’s effect on the buried arch structure depends on the vehicle’s standing position on the structure. The arch area is relatively weaker than the other areas on the arch. The arch bending was reduced due to the soil-arching effect, and the dominant displacement direction was vertical. The displacement of the arch varied depending on the truck’s layout and the different pavement stiffness. The effect of vehicle loads on multiple lanes did not cause a significant displacement increase for segmental arch structures. The displacement of the arch was only significantly dependent on the degree of load concentration on the top of the arch and less dependent on multiple lanes of loads.
- (2)
- The degree of increase in arch displacement with asphalt concrete pavement (ACP) was higher than that of cement concrete pavement (CCP) (15.0% versus 9.2%). Therefore, the influence of the vehicle load above on the buried arch structure tended to be higher for the softer pavement structure than the stiffer pavement structure (ACP compared with CCP). The additional displacement under vehicle load was significantly lower in the case of a loaded lane, and the truck rear axle spacing is 9 m.
- (3)
- The tensile stress zone distribution in the arch structure was not significantly dependent on the rear axle distance of the truck and the pavement structure. However, there was a difference in distribution coverage when the BPAS was loaded on single-lane loading and two-lane loading. The tensile stress in the arch structure of two load-carrying lanes was greater than that of a single load-carrying lane but not significantly (roundly 2%). The tensile stress in the arch structure increased insignificantly with additional vehicle load (around 3%).
- (4)
- The extent of wheel track pressure propagation depended not only on the magnitude of the axle load but also on the stiffness of the pavement structure. The CCP structure allowed the wheel load distribution on the backfill material to be better than the ACP structure. The extent of the influence zone of the backfill should be defined as 2.4 m wide from the bottom of the arch and on the prism plane created with a 45-degree transverse angle, which could enhance coverage of the vehicle’s affected area on the buried structure.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
BPAS | Buried precast arch structures |
ACP | Asphalt concrete pavement |
CCP | Cement concrete pavement |
FEA | Finite Element Analysis |
FEM | Finite Element Model |
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Property | Unit | M40 | M30 |
---|---|---|---|
Mass density, γ | kg/m3 | 2450 | 2400 |
Young’s modulus, Ec | MPa | 30,000 | 26,600 |
Poisson’s ratio, υ | - | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Compressive strength, f’c | MPa | 40 | 30 |
Tensile strength, ft | MPa | 4 | 3 |
Dilation angle | ° | 31 | 31 |
Eccentricity | - | 0.1 | 0.1 |
fb0/fc0 | - | 1.16 | 1.16 |
K | - | 0.67 | 0.67 |
Viscosity parameter | - | 0 | 0 |
Property | Unit | Subsoil | Embankment |
---|---|---|---|
Mass density, γ | kg/m3 | 1800 | 1750 |
Young’s modulus, E | MPa | 45 | 50 |
Poisson’s ratio, υ | - | 0.33 | 0.28 |
Internal friction angle, φ | ° | 25 | 35 |
Dilatancy angle, Ψ | ° | 1 | 5 |
Cohesion, c | KPa | 100 | 20 |
Number of Truck Lane | Pavement Structure | |
---|---|---|
ACP | CCP | |
Single lane | Case 1 (ACP-1lane) | Case 2 (CCP-1lane) |
Two lanes | Case 3 (ACP-2lane) | Case 4 (CCP-2lane) |
Scenarios | ACP (%) | CCP (%) |
---|---|---|
No vehicle | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1lane, [P2–P3] = 4.3 m | 13.7 | 5.3 |
2lane, [P2–P3] = 4.3 m | 18.9 | 13.7 |
1lane, [P2–P3] = 9 m | 11.6 | 4.2 |
2lane, [P2–P3] = 9 m | 15.8 | 13.7 |
Average | 15.0 | 9.2 |
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Nguyen, V.-T.; Huh, J. Finite Element Model-Based Behavior Evaluation of Pavement Stiffness Influence on Shallowly Buried Precast Arch Structures Subjected to Vehicle Load. Geotechnics 2025, 5, 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics5030050
Nguyen V-T, Huh J. Finite Element Model-Based Behavior Evaluation of Pavement Stiffness Influence on Shallowly Buried Precast Arch Structures Subjected to Vehicle Load. Geotechnics. 2025; 5(3):50. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics5030050
Chicago/Turabian StyleNguyen, Van-Toan, and Jungwon Huh. 2025. "Finite Element Model-Based Behavior Evaluation of Pavement Stiffness Influence on Shallowly Buried Precast Arch Structures Subjected to Vehicle Load" Geotechnics 5, no. 3: 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics5030050
APA StyleNguyen, V.-T., & Huh, J. (2025). Finite Element Model-Based Behavior Evaluation of Pavement Stiffness Influence on Shallowly Buried Precast Arch Structures Subjected to Vehicle Load. Geotechnics, 5(3), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics5030050