Further developments of 3DMOVE and its engineering applications

In this study, the computer model 3DMOVE, which is a continuum finite-layer based approach used in evaluating the responses of linear elastic/viscoelastic medium to constant moving surface loads, is reviewed. Some numerical difficulties related to the analytical solution used are discussed and errors found in the previous version of the computer program 3DMOVE have been corrected.; The applications of the 3DMOVE program in simulating and analyzing off-road tire-pavement interaction are introduced. It has been found that the program is capable of evaluating the responses of flexible pavements to very complex load patterns (heavy off-road tires), which are close to the measured responses. Various factors that affect the accuracy of the predicted responses are discussed. Comparison between the responses predicted by the 3DMOVE program and a widely used approximate method (ELSYM5) is also presented. It has been found that the approximate method underestimate the responses calculated near the surface (e.g. the tensile strains at the bottom of the AC layer), while it gives good responses away from the surface, as expected.; A new approach that account for the dynamic load variation of the moving loads is introduced and the 3DMOVE program has been modified accordingly. The theoretical formulation of the new approach and its application in evaluating flexible pavement responses under dynamic moving loads are discussed. Illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the importance of using the new approach in evaluating flexible pavement responses under dynamic moving traffic loads.