A Finite Element Investigation of the Superelevated Horizontal Curve

Stress-strain analyses are studied under the bottom of the pavement layer, and pavement life values are calculated depending on the cross-section variation because of the superelevation in horizontal curves. For this purpose, 1st principal total mechanical strain values are analyzed with the superelevation values changing between 0-8 (%) and the different positions of wheel contact pressure. Finite element method is used for analysis. According to results of the study, it is obtained that pavement life decreases with the increasing superelevation, in the case of 8% superelevation and decreasing the distance to pavement edge, pavement life decreasing gets to 34%