Improvement strategies of cement concrete pavement structure on part-fill and part-cut subgrade

ABSTRACT

The unavoidable transverse non-uniformity of settlement and moduli for part-fill and part-cut subgrade may have some critical impact on concrete pavement structures, hence, some structural optimisations of pavement based on the working conditions of subgrade are essential. In this study, on account of the practical working conditions of part-fill and part-cut subgrade, a finite element model of concrete pavement structure on part-fill and part-cut subgrade developed previously was conducted to analyse the effects of slab thickness, slab concrete modulus of rupture, tie bar diameter and tie bar spacing. Furthermore, improvement methods and strategies were analysed and proposed for the four parameters respectively with fatigue cracking design life under loading as the target and maximum stress at the bottom of slab as the criterion. The results verified the feasibility of incorporating non-uniformity of modulus and settlement into the design phase of concrete pavements on part-fill and part-cut subgrade. Additionally, concrete pavement parameter optimisation priority should be given to concrete modulus of rupture, slab thickness, followed by tie bar diameter and spacing. It can provide a useful reference for designing concrete pavement structures on part-fill and part-cut subgrade.

KEYWORDS:

• Part-fill and part-cut subgrade
• concrete pavement
• KENSLABS computer programme
• partial contact
• finite element method (FEM)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Program under grant number 2019YFS0492.