FEM Modelling of Interaction between Wheel and Asphalt

Abstract

Experimental analysis of the asphalt samples and numerical models of these experiments found in literature, are performed using the various rates of deformations, range of temperatures, and a spectrum of loading cycles. Results obtained from these experiments and simulations characterize asphalt in the laboratory conditions. However, the interaction between the wheel and the asphalt is much more complex, rate of deformation depends on vehicle velocity, load, tire properties. In this paper, we present a modeling of rolling motion of a wheel over the asphalt pavement using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The goal presented in this paper is the determination of the appropriate rate of deformation using realistic model, which will be used afterwards in the experiments, or numerical models of asphalt specimens. Load definition, prescribed displacements, kinematic constraints, and contact enforcement are given.