ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes algorithms for solving complex problems and provides MATLAB scripts for their solution. It deals with the distribution of stresses and strains in road structures and describes in detail the use of Burmister’s method to calculate the stress distribution in structures of multilayered roads. The book then deals with the unsaturated soil mechanics applied to road structures and examines the methodology to assess the water retention curve using the empirical model proposed in the Mechanistic Empiric Pavement Design Gide. It also explains the essential subject of the mechanical behavior of road materials. The book discusses the climate effects on road structures. It then explains the theoretical tools that allow analyzing the performance of vibratory compactors and the procedure to examine their movement to apply the methodology of continuous compaction control.
