This study aimed to investigate the effect of multi-wheel loading gear configuration on loading-induced failure potential of airfield flexible pavements. Field response testing was conducted in the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) using different multi-wheel gear configurations. Three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) models were developed to simulate multi-wheel loading along with non-uniform tyre contact stresses. The 3-D FE models were validated by tensile strains measured from response testing. The effects of wheel loading configurations and magnitudes on different strains responses were compared for two pavement sections with different asphalt layer thicknesses. Analysis results showed that six-wheel gear configuration caused the greater pavement responses. The critical shear strains were found greater than critical tensile strains at the same loading condition and pavement structure, especially for thick asphalt pavements. This is consistent with top-down cracks observed at field sections after traffic testing. On the other hand, shear strains increase more rapidly as the load level increases as compared to tensile strains; while thin asphalt layer is more sensitive to loading magnitude as compared to thick asphalt layer. The multi-wheel effect on fatigue life is more significant for thick pavement due to the load superposition effect under different wheels.

这项研究的目的是调查多轮加载齿轮配置对机场柔性路面加载引起的潜在破坏的影响。现场响应测试是在国家机场路面测试设施（NAPTF）中使用不同的多轮齿轮配置进行的。开发了三维（3-D）有限元（FE）模型来模拟多轮载荷以及不均匀的轮胎接触应力。通过响应测试中测得的拉伸应变验证了3-D FE模型。比较了具有不同沥青层厚度的两个路面部分的车轮载荷配置和大小对不同应变响应的影响。分析结果表明，六轮齿轮配置引起较大的路面响应。在相同的载荷条件和路面结构下，特别是对于厚沥青路面，发现临界剪切应变大于临界拉伸应变。这与交通测试后在现场部分观察到的自上而下的裂缝是一致的。另一方面，与拉伸应变相比，随着载荷水平的增加，剪切应变的增加更快。与较厚的沥青层相比，较薄的沥青层对荷载大小更敏感。多轮对疲劳寿命的影响对于厚路面而言更为重要，这是由于不同轮在载荷下的叠加作用。与拉伸应变相比，随着载荷水平的增加，剪切应变的增加更快。与较厚的沥青层相比，较薄的沥青层对荷载大小更敏感。多轮对疲劳寿命的影响对于厚路面而言更为重要，这是由于不同轮在载荷下的叠加作用。与拉伸应变相比，随着载荷水平的增加，剪切应变的增加更快。与较厚的沥青层相比，较薄的沥青层对荷载大小更敏感。多轮对疲劳寿命的影响对于厚路面而言更为重要，这是由于不同轮在载荷下的叠加作用。