The effect of subbase type on opening times for fast-track concrete pavements

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical study to assess the effect of subbase type on opening times for a fast-track pavement. Initially, a 3.5 m × 4.5 m concrete pavement was cast in the laboratory over a granular subbase. A simulated traffic loading was applied to the concrete plate at an early age of 11 h after the cast. The developed strains in specific locations were monitored during the experiment. The experimental results were used to validate a numerical simulation based on the finite element method. This numerical method was then used to calculate flexural stresses developed for different types of subbase. It was verified that depending on the subbase type, maximum flexural stresses during test may vary considerably, indicating that the subbase type plays an important role on the time of opening of fast-track pavement.

Keywords:

• fast-track pavement
• concrete pavement
• subbase
• numerical methods
• experimental methods

Notes

^1. [email protected]

^2. [email protected]

^3. [email protected]

^4. [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vanessa Rheinheimer

1. 1. [email protected]

Marco Andre Argenta

2. 2. [email protected]

Henriette L. La Rovere

3. 3. [email protected]

Glicerio Triches

4. 4. [email protected]