Abstract The accelerated degradation of rigid highway pavements under Over-Dimension Overload (ODOL) freight traffic necessitates advanced mechanistic evaluation beyond traditional static Winkler design codes. This study develops a rigorously validated 2D explicit Finite Difference Method (FDM) to simulate the dynamic non-local response of a concrete slab subjected to moving 8-axle heavy vehicle loads. The pavement-subgrade interaction is formulated using a two-parameter Pasternak foundation to account for soil shear continuity, evaluated under conservative Free Edge boundary conditions. Spatial contour and time-history numerical outputs reveal that closely spaced multi-axle configurations (e. g. , quad-trailers) induce severe dynamic superposition. This continuous loading prevents the slab's elastic rebound, creating a sustained tensile strain basin that significantly accelerates fatigue potential compared to isolated axles. Furthermore, a comprehensive parametric sweep coupling vehicle velocity and foundation stiffness demonstrates that subgrade shear ({G}) acts as a critical mechanistic mitigation driver. A competent Pasternak foundation reduces peak static deflections by approximately 35% compared to the Winkler baseline and induces a critical "resonance shift. " While Dynamic Amplification Factors (DAF) can reach 1. 55 near 60 km/h on weak subgrades, increasing shear stiffness shifts this destructive resonance velocity well beyond standard highway operational limits (> 140 km/h). Ultimately, this computational framework proves that mitigating structural vulnerability requires prioritizing adequate axle-spacing and foundation shear stiffness alongside traditional gross vehicle weight limits.
Buwono et al. (Wed,) studied this question.