Abstract
Daily changing temperature causes significant thermal stress in concrete pavement. Tensile stress obtained can exceed flexural tensile strength when the concrete slabs are subjected to large temperature gradient and traffic loads, resulting in pavement damages. In this paper, maximum tensile stresses in concrete slabs with different slab sizes, thicknesses, and length to width (L/W) ratios were investigated by using the finite element (FE) method. The important parameters in the design of concrete pavement are the flexural tensile strength and the fatigue limit. By analyzing the comparison results between the maximum tensile stress and the fatigue limit, the optimum slab size and the critical thickness were determined. The results indicate that the maximum tensile stress obtained is higher for larger slab size with thin thickness. Furthermore, to reduce cutting work and the amount of dowel bars, the optimum slab sizes of the regional airport concrete pavement are recommended as 4 m × 4 m to 6 m × 6 m. The critical thicknesses of 4 m × 4 m slab and 6 m × 6 m slab are determined as 28.2 cm and 34.7 cm, respectively, based on the most unfavorable coupling between positive and negative temperature gradients and the Boeing 737–800 aircraft load. Moreover, the maximum tensile stress increases as the L/W ratio increases. When the slab length is less than 6 m, it is better to use square slab in airport jointed concrete pavement (JCP).
Highlights
In the recent years, concrete pavements are preferred because of their high strength, good durability, less maintenance, and ease of procurement
Us, with respect to the combined e ects of ±60°C·m−1and the Boeing 737–800 aircraft load, the critical thicknesses of 4 m × 4 m slab and 6 m × 6 m slab are determined as 28.2 cm and 34.7 cm, respectively
In order to optimize the structure parameters such as slab size, thickness, and length to width (L/W) ratio of regional airport jointed concrete pavement (JCP), 3-D finite element (FE) models were developed by using ABAQUS. e effects of different slab sizes, thicknesses, and L/W ratios on the maximum tensile stresses were investigated
Summary
Concrete pavements are preferred because of their high strength, good durability, less maintenance, and ease of procurement. Wei et al suggested that the critical slab size of rural road concrete pavement was 2 m × 2 m considering the combined effect of 15°C temperature difference and 100 kN axes load [17]. E optimum slab sizes, thicknesses, and L/W ratios of regional airport JCP related to environmental temperature and aircraft loads still need to be investigated. E objectives of the present studies are to evaluate the critical stresses and deformations of concrete slabs considering different structural parameters and combined effects of various temperature and traffic loads. It is especially important for environment temperature occurring in Northeast China significantly influencing tensile stresses of concrete slabs. Based on the comparison results between the maximum tensile stress and the fatigue limit, the optimum slab size and the critical thickness are determined and the square slab is recommended. e obtained results can be helpful in design of new regional airport JCP and assessment of their load in countries with big temperature amplitudes
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