Effect of Axle and Tire Configurations on Flexible Pavement Response

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyse flexible pavement mechanistic response to axle configurations and tire variations with the help of KENPAVE program based on field survey conducted in Cipularang Highway Km. 97. Each tire load was obtained from the axle load divided by the number of tires. Vertical compressive strain was used to analyze rutting damage while horizontal tensile strain was used to analyze fatigue damage. The results showed that on single axle single tire, the biggest strain value is at the center of the tire. Single axle dual tires obtains biggest strain at the tire radius. Tandem and tridem axle dual tires obtain biggest strain values at 1/2 distance between tires. Vertical and horizontal strain value on the vehicles are not only influenced by vehicle loading but also axle configuration. Number of allowable repetitions is inversely proportional to vertical and horizontal strain value, which means that the bigger vertical strain value is, the number of vehicle reps that can cross the road without causing rutting damage will be smaller.