Pavement Mechanics

• Better understand how pavements behave under service conditions
• Identify construction and design parameters that affect performance
• Compute mechanical responses by means of classical plate theory
• Compute mechanical responses by means of layered elasticity theory
• Identify common concrete pavement distress types
• Perform inverse analysis of pavement layer properties
• Employ linear viscoelastic theory for material characterization
• Utilize linear viscoelastic theory for structural modeling

General mechanics background (10%):
(i) Deformation, rotation and strain, compatibility equations, traction and stress;
(ii) Equilibrium equations, linear elastic constitutive equations, boundary value problems;
Concrete pavements (45%):
(iii) Introduction and terminology;
(iv) Overview of construction process;
(v) Mechanics of slab-on-grade;
(vi) Concrete properties and environmental effects;
(vii) Joints – roles, types, arrangement, design, sealing;
(viii) Common distress modes and causes;
Asphalt pavements (45%):
(ix) Layered elastic half-space – problem formulation and solution method;
(x) Elastostatic FWD backcalculation;
(xi) Linear viscoelastic solids – Boltzmann superposition, creep and relaxation;
(xii) Interconversion and Laplace transform
(xiii) Frequency domain – dynamic modulus and phase angle;
(xiv) Time-temperature superposition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kegPzLuWqzc);
(xv) Spectra and mechanical analogs;
(xvi) Layered viscoelastic half-space – correspondence principle.

Lectures, discussions, exercises, and project work.