Modelling of dynamic response of pavements to impact loading

This contribution presents a discrete layer model for studying the elastostatic response of a pavement to falling weight deflectometer impact loading. The displacement field is represented by a Fourier-Bessel series expansion in the radial direction and piecewise linear variation in displacement in the vertical. Explicit time marching has been adopted to follow the history of a response. The results show that, although dynamic and static deflection bowls are different, little amplification in displacement due to inertia occurs directly under the load, even in the absence of damping. The results also suggest that measured displacements farther away from the load should not be used for backcalculation, if static analysis is used to interpret FWD generated data.