Investigating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise-induced High Groundwater Table on Florida Flexible Pavement Structural Performance

Authors

Mehmet Goksel GocmezFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Civil Engineering

First Advisor's Name

Hesham Ali

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Hector R. Fuentes

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Priyanka Alluri

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

florida, pavement, sea level rise

Date of Defense

11-10-2021

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the impacts of sea-level rise-induced high groundwater table on the structural performance of typical Florida interstate, arterial, and local flexible pavements. Pavement longevity was determined under rising groundwater table level conditions using two analytical methods; the mechanistic-empirical (ME) analysis software and the current Florida empirical analysis practice. Moreover, ABAQUS and KENLAYER software were utilized to analyze the impacts of stress-dependent material nonlinearity on pavement structural performance.

Analysis results estimated that the pavement service life in Florida was reduced by as much as 77 percent with the effects of rising groundwater levels. The empirical method predicted higher rates of pavement deterioration than the ME method. The predominant pavement failure mode was found to be rutting, and higher class roads (interstate and arterial) were found to face more structural capacity loss than local roads. The effects of nonlinear material behavior were found to be insignificant.

Identifier

FIDC010445

Recommended Citation

Gocmez, Mehmet Goksel, "Investigating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise-induced High Groundwater Table on Florida Flexible Pavement Structural Performance" (2021). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4850.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4850