ANALYSIS OF MID-SLAB TRANSVERSE CRACKING IN JOINTED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Premature top-down transverse mid-slab cracking of concrete pavement is among the major problems facing pavement designers. The combined effect of negative thermal gradient and heavy vehicle joint-loading is examined using three dimensional finite element (3D-FE) analysis. The model's thermal response is validated versus field-measured data collected from an intensively instrumented section of Route 33 near Elkins in West Virginia. Results indicate that such loading condition has its maximum effect on the longitudinal stress under the position of load application at transverse joints. A temperature profile that includes a slab-temperature drop is shown to induce large tensile thermal stress, the magnitude of which is shown to be dependent on the concrete slab length. Dowel bar bending due to slab curling causes significant edge restraint to slab contraction and expansion. The 3D-FE results confirm the correlation between transverse cracking and slab length observed in the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTTP) field studies.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/16762797
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Mississippi, University

  Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology
  University, MS  United States  38677-1848
• Authors:
  • Shoukry, S N
  • William, G W
  • Srinivasan, S
• Publication Date: 2002-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 81-94
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Pavements
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: University of Mississippi, University
  • ISSN: 1676-2797

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Dowels (Fasteners); Expansion; Finite element method; Load factor; Pavement cracking; Pavement design; Pavement performance; Slabs; Stresses; Thermal analysis; Three dimensional flow; Transverse cracking
• Geographic Terms: Elkins (West Virginia)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00935103
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 2003 12:00AM