Analysis of Aggregate Base Behavior Using Layered Elastic and Finite Element Methods

In this paper, the critical strains for pavement design were calculated from both Layered Elastic Program (LEP) and Finite Element Method (FEM) and the case studies which give similar critical responses were compared. Although FEM has been realized as a superior model, LEP is more favorable to pavement design due to its simplicity and thus, the technique to calculate the correct critical responses using LEP is significant. This study showed that KENLAYER can possibly estimate the critical responses close to ones obtained from TTIPAVE, which considers nonlinear cross-anisotropic behavior of unbound base materials, by adjusting the stress point locations.