Stability Assessment of Road Pavement over Lava Caves Formed in Basalt Ground

Lava caves commonly occur in basaltic ground and can compromise roadway stability when present beneath pavements; however, their long-term effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study quantitatively evaluates how lava caves influence pavement behavior using numerical analyses in ABAQUS/CAE. The parameters examined include the presence/absence of a cave, cave width, cover depth, pavement thickness, and load range. Load–settlement curves under a uniformly distributed surface load show that narrower load ranges concentrate stresses and produce larger settlements, whereas wider load ranges disperse stresses and reduce deformation. Classification of deformation behavior using a rutting criterion indicates that plastic soil response dominates under most conditions. A Peak Load Reduction (PLR) index further demonstrates that structural resistance decreases markedly with shallow cover, larger cave width, and narrower load range. Overall, pavement stability above lava caves is governed primarily by cover depth, load range, and cave width, while the effect of pavement thickness is negligible. These findings suggest that, in basaltic terrains, design and maintenance should prioritize subsurface conditions and loading characteristics over pavement thickness.