Rigid Pavement Response

Calculations
The following examples illustrate how rigid pavement responses to different
stresses are calculated.

Load Stress Example Calculations

Example 1
Calculate the three critical stresses for 9 inch thick slabs. Use a 9,000
lb. FWD loading (a = 5.9 inches). Use k = 200 pci for calculation of the radius of
relative stiffness (l).

1 Calculate radius of resisting

. sections.

2 Calculate radius of relative

. stiffness

3 Calculate interior stress.

.

4 Calculate edge stress.

.
 5 Calculate corner stress.
.

This illustrates why the middle of the slab at the longitudinal outer edge (next
to shoulder) is considered critical. Further, it illustrates why tied PCC shoulders
can reduce critical edge and corner stresses.

Example 2
How would the stresses in Example 1 be reduced if the slab was 12 inches.
thick?

1 Calculate radius of resisting

. sections.

2 Calculate radius of relative

. stiffness

3 Calculate interior stress.

.

4 Calculate edge stress.

.

5 Calculate corner stress.

.
Example 3
Using the three critical slab locations, what is the total stress (load plus
warping) for the 9 inch slab. The curling stresses are obtained from the Curling
Stress Calculation Example.

Interior (daytime temperature gradient)

Load = 150 psi

Curling = 258 psi (14 ft. long slab)

Total = 408 psi

Edge (daytime temperature gradient)

Load = 226 psi

Curling = 230 psi (14 ft. long slab)

Total = 456 psi

Corner (nighttime temperature gradient)

Load = 193 psi

Curling = 36 psi (14 ft. long slab)

 Total = 229 psi

Shrinkage and Expansion Example

Calculation
Calculate the total joint movement for existing PCC slabs 9, 10, 13, 14 ft. long.
Use ΔT = 67°F and ΔT = 45°F, a granular base course and e ~ 5.0 x 10-6/°F.

ΔT = 67°F ΔT = 45°F

9 ft. slab

(0.80)(9)(12)(0.000005)(67) = 0.029 in. (0.80)(9)(12)(0.000005)(45) = 0.019 in.

10 ft. slab

(0.80)(10)(12)(0.000335) = 0.032 in. (0.80)(10)(12)(0.000225) = 0.022 in.

13 ft. slab

(0.80)(13)(12)(0.000335) = 0.042 in. (0.80)(13)(12)(0.000225) = 0.028 in.

14 ft. slab
 (0.80)(14)(12)(0.000335) = 0.045 in. (0.80)(14)(12)(0.000225) = 0.030 in.

Curling Stress Example Calculation

Calculate various warping stresses for a rigid pavement slab with the following
parameters and conditions:

 k = 200 pci
 DT = 3° F/in.
 e = 0.000005/°F
 m = 0.15
 E = 5,000,000 psi
 slab length = 14 ft.
 slab width = 12 ft.
 slab thickness h = 9 in.