Multilayer Elastic Theory Applied to Stress-Dependent Materials for Pavement Response

This study evaluates the performance of the Multi Layered Elasticity Theory (MLET) that is applied to pavement response in the presence of stress dependent materials. The resilient moduli of unbound layers are estimated by a generalized model with three parameters k1-k2-k3. The first part of the paper deals with a homogeneous half space subjected to a circular load with uniform pressure. In this phase an attempt was made to evaluate only a single value of the (equivalent) modulus of elasticity that takes into account the stress state induced in the half space by a typical load and by the at-rest earth pressure. The second part of this paper is centered on the analysis of the responses of traditional flexible pavements with the subbase layer characterized by non-linear behavior. To this aim, an iterative method was used. Numerical results show that the response of subbase layers cannot be properly determined without taking into account the stress-dependent behavior of the material.