Finite element modeling of environmental effects on rigid pavement deformation

In this study, finite element (FE)-based primary pavement response models are employed for investigating the early-age deformation characteristics of jointed plain concrete pavements ( JPCP) under environmental effects. The FE-based ISLAB (two-and-one-half-dimensional) and EverFE (three-dimensional) software were used to conduct the response analysis. Sensitivity analyses of input parameters used in ISLAB and EverFE were conducted based on field and laboratory test data collected from instrumented pavements on highway US-34 near Burlington, Iowa. Based on the combination of input parameters and equivalent temperatures established from preliminary studies, FE analyses were performed and compared with the field measurements. Comparisons between field measured and computed deformations showed that both FE programs could produce reasonably accurate estimates of actual slab deformations due to environmental effects using the equivalent temperature difference concept.