Viscowave – a new solution for viscoelastic wave propagation of layered structures subjected to an impact load

Abstract

The forward models frequently adopted for use in the dynamic backcalculation of the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) data are based on the solutions that utilise discrete transforms. In this paper, a new computational algorithm, namely ViscoWave, has been developed and implemented for modelling the pavement dynamics under the FWD impact load. The primary advantage of the proposed solution over some of the existing solutions is that it uses continuous integral transforms (Laplace and Hankel transforms) that are more appropriate for the FWD time histories whose signal characteristics are transient, non-periodic and truncated. Sample runs of the ViscoWave and the validation efforts presented in this paper showed that the proposed algorithm is capable of modelling the dynamics of a layered structure with elastic or viscoelastic material with or without a halfspace, indicating the potential of ViscoWave as a forward model for dynamic backcalculation of flexible pavement properties.

Keywords::

• wave propagation
• viscoelasticity
• asphalt pavements
• dynamic analysis
• layered systems
• impact loads