Mechanism analysis of rutting at urban intersections based on numerical simulation under moving vehicle loads

Frequent starting and braking of vehicles causes rutting of asphalt pavement at urban intersection. As a result, dynamic response of pavement subjected to these kinds of vehicle loadings can be used to analyze rutting mechanism. At first, vehicle loading at urban intersection was described by a vertical and horizontal combined moving pressure with variable speeds. Then, three-dimensional finite element model in transient dynamic mode is developed based on the practical pavement structure. And the moving load, boundary conditions and material parameters were briefly introduced. Finally, through the comparison of time histories and spatial distribution among accelerating, decelerating and uniform motion, mechanism of rutting of asphalt pavement at urban intersections was illustrated according to the finite element simulation. It shows that frequent starting and braking of vehicle at urban intersections, obviously change the stress distribution within pavement structure compared with uniform motion case. The distribution and amplitude of maximum shear stress and horizontal shear stress was observed during the passage of the loading, which will result in shear flow deformation. Pavement structure subjected to moving load exhibits an alternative characteristic which will accelerate the rutting damage of pavement.