RESEARCH ON SEGMENTAL CONCRETE BLOCK PAVING IN THE RSA (1967-1983). (PART I)

At the time that segmental concrete block paving was introduced into the RSA (Republic of South Africa) (about 1967), design was based largely on experience in Europe. The promoters of one of the first types of unit (sf) to appear on the South African market requested the Portland Cement Institute (PCI) to investigate the load-spreading capacity of sf units, and to develop a rational design method for pavements surfaced with these units. A testing programme initiated by the PCI, culminating in practical design recommendations, is described. These recommendations were widely used by industry in South Africa, as were ad hoc modifications of existing British and Argentinian design procedures for conventional flexible pavements. In 1979 the NITRR (National Institute of Transport and Road Research) initiated tests of full scale test pavements using a heavy vehicle simulator (hvs) at the CSIR's Silverton test site under Dr B Shackel. Factors studied included block shape and strength, laying pattern and block thickness. A total of 20 test panels, each 15 m long and 3 m wide, was installed between three parallel reinforced concrete kerbs, 75 m long. In 1980 Shackel conducted a series of accelerated trafficking tests of segmental concrete block pavements. The tests were designed to explore the effects of changes in the properties of the bedding and jointing sands used in the construction of block pavements. The effects of changes in thickness of the paving blocks and the laying pattern or bond were also studied. The major conclusions reached are given. For abstract of Part II (NITRR Research on Segmental Block Paving in the RSA 1981-1984) see TRIS 452752. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03799824
• Corporate Authors:

  Concrete Society of Southern Africa

  Portland Park, P.O. Box 168
  Halfway House,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Lane, J W
  • MARAIS, L R
• Publication Date: 1984-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 28
• Serial:
  • CONCRETE BETON
  • Issue Number: 33
  • Publisher: Concrete Society of Southern Africa
  • ISSN: 0379-9824

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerated tests; Concrete; Concrete blocks; Deformation; Design methods; Evaluation and assessment; Groups; Load tests; Loads; Pavement base course; Pavement design; Pavements; Paving stones; Repeated loads; Sampling; Sand; Segmental construction; Shape; Simulation; Specifications; Strength of materials; Test tracks; Thickness; Traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pavement thickness
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• Old TRIS Terms: Block sampling
• ITRD Terms: 2990: Basecourse; 4755: Concrete; 5595: Deformation; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 5567: Load; 3055: Pavement design; 5588: Repetitive loading; 4105: Sand; 4508: Sett (stone); 9073: Shape; 9103: Simulation; 8103: South Africa; 177: Specifications; 2789: Test track; 5933: Thickness; 755: Traffic
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00452751
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM