Determination of the equivalent thickness of base layer of flexible pavement reinforced by geogrid.

This thesis presents a numerical analysis for the determination of the equivalent thickness of a homogeneous base layer of an unreinforced multilayered system subjected to the repetitive loadings of a constant value. The system demonstrates the same performance as the analogous multilayered system does which contains the geogrid inclusion as reinforcement in the placement of interest of the base layer. The constitutive model adopted in the analysis is the modification of the small displacement theory of elastic continuum. Employing the proposed constitutive model the permanent modulus in each homogeneous isotropic layer of the unreinforced multilayered systems is determined for each sequent loading. It is done by the implementation of the Finite Element Method with respect to spatial variables. The same approach is used in analysis of reinforced multilayered systems in which geogrid is placed. In numerical simulation, the layer with geogrid inclusion is considered to be made of homogeneous material. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2004 .B33. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-01, page: 0262. Adviser: B. B. Budrowska. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2004.