Investigating influences on the strain – axle load relationship in asphalt pavement using Finite Element Modelling

Abstract

Current pavement maintenance strategies are reliant on
invasive measurements or visual inspection. Fibre-
WIM sensors can improve this by measuring strain,
which can be used to calculate axle loads. However,
this process is not simple. Finite Element Modelling is
used to study several circumstantial influences on the
strain – axle load relationship. These factors are
combined into a predicting function, which can be
refined so that it can be used to calculate axle loads.
This allows for more insight in pavement deterioration.
Other than describing the results of the Finite Element
Model, the implications for sustainable pavement
maintenance are discussed.