Temperature – Friction Stresses

 Temperature changes will result in slab

expansion (for increased temperature) and
contraction (for reduced temperature)
 As the pavement contracts, the
movements are restrained by the friction
between slab and underlying
subbase/subgrade. The resistance
produces a direct tensile stress which may
cause concrete to crack

29
 Temperature – Friction Stresses

 The magnitude of stress depends on

length of slab, the type of concrete
pavement, the magnitude of the
temperature changes, coefficient of
friction between the pavement and
subgrade/subbase
 The magnitude of the restraint tensile
stresses developed is also heavily
dependant upon the temperature
conditions at the time the slab is laid
30
 Temperature – Friction Stresses

31
 Temperature – Friction Stresses

L
 ch   c   h  f
2

L
c  c    f
2

32
 Temperature Steel

 The provision of suitable expansion/contraction

joints in the slab only reduces the magnitude of
these stresses since considerable resistance to
free movement will still be offered by the
subgrade/subbase.
 The principal function of steel reinforcement is to
control the opening of cracks in slab. It does not
completely prevent cracking but holds the crack
together thus controlling crack width.
 This direct tensile stress is greatest at the middle
of the slab so steel is usually designed to
withstand stresses at this location.

33
 Temperature Steel…

 Inclusion of steel reinforcement to resist

flexural stresses in slab is not justified:
– economically, since modern construction
methods can secure additional load-carrying
capacity at a less cost by using additional
thickness of slab.

34
 Stresses resulting from
contraction/friction

As the slab
contracts due
to temperature
change

3
5
 Temperature – Friction Stresses…

For equilibrium, the frictional forces from

the centre to the free end of the slab
must equal the tension in the slab

L
 c Ac  f s As   c   h  b  g  f
2

36
 Temperature – Friction Stresses…

h = thickness of slab
c = tensile stresses in concrete
Ac = area of concrete
fs = allowable tensile stresses in steel
As = area of steel
L = length of slab
b = width of slab
f = friction coefficient
c = unit weight of concrete
g = acceleration due to gravity

37
 Temperature Steel…
As the steel bars are spanning across the
joint, the tensile stress in the concrete is zero
and all the stresses due to friction resistance
are taken by the steel bars.

 c Lhbf g
Therefore f s As 
2
 c Lh f g
3 for unit width i.e. b = 1 As 
2 fs
8
 Temperature Steel…

As= required area of steel per unit width

L = Length of slab
h = thickness of slab
f = average coefficient of friction between
the concrete slab and the underlying layer
(typically 1.5)
g = acceleration due to gravity
fs = allowable steel stress
3
9
 Temperature – Friction Stresses…

Combining c and h in As = required area of

above eq., the eq. to steel per metre width
calculate the min. (mm2)
amount of longitudinal M = mass per unit area
steel may also be of slab (t/m2)
expressed as L = length of slab (m)
1000MLfg g = acceleration of free
As  fall (9.81m/s2)
2 fs fs = allowable tensile
stress in steel (MPa)

40
 Temperature Steel…

 For short slabs (4.5 – 6.0m), the required

amount of steel is nil and plain concrete
perform adequately. Reinforcing steel
must be used for longer slabs to control
cracking.
 As the length of slab is increased to great
lengths e.g. 150m or more, the amount of
steel becomes large and the pavement
becomes a continuously reinforced
concrete pavements.
4
1
 Temperature Steel…

A reinforced concrete slab is seldom wider than 4.6 m

and its length exceeds its width.
 Reinforcement is therefore normally required to
control transverse cracking as longitudinal cracking
rarely occurs. Reinforcement is placed in
longitudinal direction and transverse steel is
provided to give rigidity to mesh fabric or to
support and space deformed bars.
 Only if a slab is wider than 4.6 m, e.g. when
constructing a three lane carriageway in two equal
widths, is extra transverse steel required to control
longitudinal cracking.
4
2
 Joint Opening

 Spacing of joints in plain concrete

pavements depends more on the shrinkage
characteristics of the concrete rather than
on the stress.
 Joint opening decreases load transfer
efficiency and increases potential for
moisture infiltration.

L  CL( t T  )
4
3
 Joint Opening…

L = Joint opening, mm or in. (caused by drying

shrinkage and temperature change)
t = Coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete (5
to 6  10-6/F or 9 to 11  10-6/C)
 = Drying shrinkage coefficient of concrete, 0.5 to
2.5  10-4
L = Joint spacing, mm or in.
T = Temp. drop (temp. at construction-lowest
mean min. monthly temp., F or C.
C = Adjustment factor due to slab/subbase friction,
4 0.65 for stabilised base, 0.80 for granular
4 subbase, 1.0 for subgrade soils.
 MOISTURE INDUCED STRESSES

Differences in moisture
content between the top
and bottom of slab cause
the slab to warp as
moisture causes the slab
to expand, resulting in
warping stresses. Stresses
are caused by the weight
of the slab, resistance
from subgrade, and
restraint resistance at slab
edges.
4
5
 Moisture Induced Stresses…

 For fairly wet climates, moisture content

remains constant throughout nearly the
full thickness of the slab.
 Moisture warping has a more significant
effect on drier climates and regions with
pronounced wet and dry seasons.
 It can generally be assumed that the
effect of moisture will oppose those of
temperature.
46
 Load Transfer Mechanism

Types Benefits
 Aggregate Interlock  Reduced joint
(dummy) deflections
 Dowels  Reduced pumping
 Keyways  Reduced slab
– Tied stress
– Untied  Extended life
 Subbase Support
4
7
 JOINTS IN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Types of Joints
 Contraction joints
 Expansion joints
 Construction joints
 Longitudinal joints

48
 Contraction Joints

 Contraction joints are placed transversely at

regular intervals to relieve induced tensile
stresses (due to prevented contraction) and
control cracking.
 The maximum joint spacing necessary to control
cracking in plain concrete is 4.5 - 6.0 m. Spacing
for reinforced concrete are longer.
 The most commonly used type is the dummy
joint. Butt joints, which are also construction
joints, are used only on small road schemes.
 If there is doubt about the ability of the
interlocking grains to transfer the load, a dowel
4 bar may be installed.
9
 Typical (dummy) Contraction
Joint

Spacing contraction joint in ft should not be greater

than twice slab thickness in in.
50
 Expansion Joints

 Primarily designed to provide space for expansion

of concrete slabs when the temperature rises
(above which the concrete was laid) i.e. relief
compressive stresses.
 They are provided transversely, at regular
intervals and mostly where pavements meet
structures such as bridge abutments, or at
intersections.
 They are usually 20 to 25 mm wide.
 The joint space is filled with compressible filler
material e.g. cork, rubber, or bituminous material.

51
 Expansion Joints…

 The load transfer mechanism is usually a

smooth dowel bar lubricated on one side.
An expansion cap is usually installed to
provide space for dowel during expansion.
 Expansion joints are susceptible to
pumping and their use should be
minimised.

5
2
 Typical (dowelled) Expansion
Joint
20 mm

Sealing 50 mm
d/2 compound 25 mm

Expansion
d fixed Smooth, cap
filler lubricated (paint,
oil)

5
3
 Construction Joints

 Construction joints are those transverse

joints, other than deliberately designed
joints, placed to provide suitable
transition between concrete laid at
different times.
 Load transfer is provided by a key, dowel
or tie bar.
 Good construction planning ensures that
end-of-day joints are either contraction or
expansion joints.
5
4
 Typical (keyed) construction joint

~20 mm

~13 mm

d
d/3

~13 mm

0.1d

5
5
 Typical (butt) construction joint

d/2
mm

d fixed Smooth, lubricated

(dowel bar)

5
6
 Longitudinal Joints

 For relief of curling and warping stresses

 Different types are used depending on
whether construction is full width or lane-
at-a-time.

5
7
 Full-width construction

5
8
 Lane-at-a-time Construction

5
9