| Three-dimensional finite element modeling of airport pavement systems requires complicated large-scale computational models, including frictional contact and nonlinear constitutive modeling, because of the highly nonlinear and heterogeneous nature of the concrete pavement and granular supporting layers. Due to the infinite domain size and localized multiple pressure loads, efficient mesh construction and load discretization are very important issues in the structural modeling of airport pavement systems. This dissertation covers (1) the characterization of airport pavement systems, (2) the construction of nonlinear three-dimensional finite element models, (3) the development of modeling tools, and (4) the results of parameter studies on airport pavement systems under various loading and design conditions. Three-dimensional finite element results of the fundamental behavior of airport pavement systems, including worst loading case, wheel load interaction effects, stress magnification under thermal gradients, and the load transfer mechanism between adjacent concrete slab segments, are discussed in this dissertation. |
