Effects of Decelerated Moving Load of Automated Vehicles on the Pavement Stress–Strain Responses Using 3-D Finite Element Modelling

Abstract

Automated vehicles (AVs) are set to become more prevalent in the future, and their deployment has raised several questions about how these new types of “driverless” cars will affect road pavements worldwide. One of the significant potential differences between AVs and non-AVs is the decelerating moving loads of the vehicles, influencing pavement performance. This paper aims to examine the effects of the decelerated moving load of AVs on pavement stress-strain responses using 3-D finite element modelling. First, the difference in deceleration behaviour between AVs and non-AVs was examined. A linear deceleration model was proposed for AVs, while non-AVs were assumed to follow a parabolic deceleration model. A 3D pavement model was developed through the ABAQUS software, and the effects of decelerating moving loads on pavement stress-strain responses were determined using 3D finite element modelling. After validating the finite element model, the longitudinal and vertical stresses and strains induced by the AVs and non-AVs deceleration models and calculated by ABAQUS were compared. The results of these comparisons show that there was hardly any difference in maximum values. Possible explanations for this lack of difference were given: a lack of difference in speed and loading time of the pavement elements between the two proposed deceleration models, a lack of possibilities to simulate multiple vehicle passes, and a limited representation of the effects of braking in the 3D model.