STRUCTURAL DESIGN METHOD OF PRECAST REINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENT BASED ON FATIGUE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study aims the development of a structural design method taking advantage of reinforcement in concrete slab. In this method, the design period is considered an addition of a period for the fatigue of RC slab and a period for the fatigue of steel reinforcement bar after bottom crack in RC slab occurs. Applying stresses computed from 3DFEM analysis to fatigue curves, relationships among fatigue damages in RC slab and reinforcement bar, RC slab thickness and reinforcement ratio were obtained. Using the results, a design procedure was proposed and an example is presented in this paper. A computer software was developed, which gives the reinforcement ratio for a specified design period and design parameters including RC slab thickness, traffic and temperature conditions.