Abstract: Based on the lower bound theorem of shakedown analysis, a procedure for shakedown analysis of structures has been established by using plastic strain energy as the shakedown criteria via a special loading path. The proposed procedure can solve effectively the problems in mathematical programming method. This paper presents an application of the proposed procedure of shakedown analysis on pavements. In the analysis, the equivalent circle yield criterion was used to denote the properties of pavement material. The influence of material properties, structural form, temperature change of pavements on shakedown behavior were investigated. The numerical results show that the proposed procedure is reliable. Therefore, energy principle provides an application approach for shakedown theorem in the field of pavement engineering.