ABSTRACT
A computational model which is able to calculate the response of the pavement fast and precisely is greatly important to accurately assess the impact of heavy traffic loads on asphalt pavements. A specific program SAFEM was developed based on a semi-analytical finite element method for this objective. It is a three-dimensional FE program that requires only a two-dimensional mesh by incorporating the semi-analytical method using Fourier series in the third dimension. The impact of heavy traffic loads was analyzed in terms of stress distribution, surface deflection and fatigue life. The results indicate that the SAFEM-program is an efficient and fast tool that is capable of accurately predicting the structural response of pavements to traffic loads.
