This study was conducted to investigate structural responses of flexible pavements at the Ohio SHRP Test Road in Delaware County, Ohio. The primary focus of the work was to obtain a validated model to predict critical dynamic load responses of longitudinal and transverse strain at the bottom of the asphalt, vertical stresses at top of subgrade, and vertical deflections. The opportunity to examine responses for a variety of conditions was provided by the comprehensive program carried out at the reference project. Analyses were performed using the finite element program ABAQUS for three pavement sections, at three vehicle speeds, and three average pavement temperature levels.
ABAQUS simulations approximated the experimental trends for all four pavement responses considered; however, validation of the ABAQUS model was achieved for transverse strains only. The use of rectangular loading area with uniform pressure distribution and isotropic constitutive models for base and subgrade materials is suspected of strongly influencing the lack of validation success for longitudinal strains, vertical stresses, and deflections. A predictive equation for transverse strains was developed and validated using a hold-out data set. Expected values of transverse strains for six different pavement sections, at three vehicle speeds, and three average pavement temperature ranges are presented.