A fully heterogeneous viscoelastic finite element model for full-scale accelerated pavement testing

This paper presents a full-scale fully heterogeneous finite element (FE) pavement model developed from X-ray computed-tomography images of asphalt concrete (AC) samples. The model was first developed to simulate a laboratory shear test. Second, model parameters determined for the laboratory shear tests were used to develop FE models for full-scale pavement test sections. A virtual strain gauge was also included in the models for calibration. Calibrated models were used to evaluate the strain-displacement distributions for all test sections. Recommendations are also presented for future use of the model developed in this study to investigate important problems in the design of asphalt pavements.