Constitutive model for unbound granular materials based on hyperelasticity

To improve the analyses of stresses and strains induced by traffic loads in flexible pavement structures, a new material model based on hyperelasticity has been developed. The proposed model includes the effect of resilient dilatancy in unbound granular materials. The three material parameters controlling the model are determined from repeated load triaxial tests. The hyperelastic model is believed to give a more realistic distribution of stresses and strains in granular layers of a pavement structure than those obtained by the commonly used linear elastic model. The hyperelastic model is being implemented in the general finite element programme ABAQUS and also in a specially tailored finite element programme.