| Modeling the behavior of concrete pavements, specifically their response to loads and other prevailing conditions, has been a subject of intensive research for several decades. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is by far the most universally applied technique for analyzing concrete pavements. Despite its versatility in simulating pavement responses however, studies have shown that in general, a FEM model predicts pavement responses that are higher than measured concrete pavement responses. A popular FEM idealization that has gained overwhelming status in the literature, is that the foundation can be modeled as a group of elastic springs that deform independently under stress agents. Referred to as the Winkler or dense liquid model, this idealization has been criticized for the ambiguous nature of estimating its fundamental parameter, the modulus of subgrade reaction (the k-value). This study examines factors that affect the k-value. A technique for estimating a “responsive” k-value in terms of the structure and load the foundation supports is developed, and validated with FWD and strain data obtained from load tests at the Minnesota Road Research Project (Mn/ROAD). |
