Finite Element Method (FEM) Matrix Study for Rapid Travel Profiler Curl/Warp Correlations

It is known from experience over the years that development of unusual large warp curvatures in jointed concrete pavement slabs can cause accelerated or rapid deterioration rates for the pavement and result in poor ride quality. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has experienced occasional events of large upwarp or downwarp; a complex phenomenon not well understood or easily simulated with structural analysis tools. It has also been shown that large variation in daily slab curvatures caused by morning to afternoon thermal gradient variations (curling) can affect International Roughness Index (IRI) calculations used for initial smoothness specifications control and for pavement management systems. A current MDOT focus is to undertake studies of how warp and curl affect initial smoothness IRI calculations and long-term pavement management system IRI values. Rapid travel profiling devices can accurately measure average concrete pavement slab curvature and daily curvature changes caused by varying temperature gradients. These profiling devices measure variations in curvature present along the traveled wheel paths in the slabs. Procedures exist for quantifying curvature in slabs from rapid travel profile data. Thus, the problem to address under this proposed research is to develop a structural back-calculation or matching tool from modern finite element type analysis methods that will match observed slab curvature magnitudes and variations in the wheel path location, to those predicted using finite element method (FEM) models.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Michigan Department of Transportation

  Van Wagoner Building
  425 W. Ottawa Street
  Lansing, MI  United States  48909
• Performing Organizations:

  Michigan State University, East Lansing

  Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  Institute for Community Development
  East Lansing, MI  United States  48824-1226
• Principal Investigators:

  Haider, Syed

• Start Date: 20240801
• Expected Completion Date: 20250831
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete pavements; Curvature; Finite element method; Slabs; Temperature gradients; Warpage
• Identifier Terms: International Roughness Index
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01944389
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Michigan Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 28 2025 3:22PM