Hygro-thermo-mechanical model for concrete pavement from an early age to a long-term performance

Abstract

A new 3D hygro-thermo-mechanical model for a single concrete pavement slab is formulated with the objective to capture slab behavior from casting to long-term drying. Strain and temperature data from five-year continuous monitoring system served for calibration and validation. Four simulated scenarios show temperature analysis after concrete casting, cyclic temperature effect and stress/strain response for traffic load and long-term drying. The results show that slab drying leads to the highest principal tensile stress on the surface and induces surface cracking when combined with temperature and traffic effects.