Prestressed Concrete, a Natural For Highway and Airport Pavements

Abstract

The paper gives the major characteristics of the prestressed highway pavements which have been built in the United States during 1971-73, together with reasons for their design features. Construction and prestressing data are cited for demonstration and research project of the Federal Highway Administration at Dulles International Airport; early-age slab movements and restraints, and performance observations of slabs over two years old. The paper describes the advantages of natural stress conditions existing in long pavement slabs, which counteract the maximum flexural traffic load tension stresses. Longitudinal prestress maintains these favorable stress conditions most effectively. Concrete and steel requirements in prestressed pavement and conventional highway pavement construction are compared, showing substantial savings of both concrete and steel in prestressed pavements, in addition to a better utilization of both materials by prestressing. Suitable criteria for design and construction of future prestressed highway and airport pavement projects are suggested.