Open Access
Influence of Subgrade Non-Uniformity on PCC Pavement Performance
TLDR
In this paper, the influence of non-uniform subgrade support on pavement responses (stress and deflection) that affect pavement performance was investigated, and the authors concluded that subgrade/subbase stiffness increases localized deflections and causes principal stress concentrations in the pavement, leading to fatigue cracking and other types of pavement distresses.Abstract:
To provide insight into subgrade non-uniformity and its effects on pavement performance, this study investigated the influence of non-uniform subgrade support on pavement responses (stress and deflection) that affect pavement performance. Several reconstructed portland cement concrete (PCC) pavement projects in Iowa were studied to document and evaluate the influence of subgrade/subbase non-uniformity on pavement performance. In situ field tests were performed at 12 sites to determine the subgrade/subbase engineering properties and develop a database of engineering parameter values for statistical and numerical analysis. Results of stiffness, moisture and density, strength, and soil classification were used to determine the spatial variability of a given property. Natural subgrade soils, fly ash-stabilized subgrade, reclaimed hydrated fly ash subbase, and granular subbase were studied. The influence of the spatial variability of subgrade/subbase on pavement performance was then evaluated by modeling the elastic properties of the pavement and subgrade using the ISLAB2000 finite element analysis program. A major conclusion from this study is that non-uniform subgrade/subbase stiffness increases localized deflections and causes principal stress concentrations in the pavement, which can lead to fatigue cracking and other types of pavement distresses. Field data show that hydrated fly ash, self-cementing fly ash-stabilized subgrade, and granular subbases exhibit lower variability than natural subgrade soils. Pavement life should be increased through the use of more uniform subgrade support. Subgrade/subbase construction in the future should consider uniformity as a key to long-term pavement performance.read more
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Pavement analysis and design
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the theory of pavement design and review the methods developed by several organizations, such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Asphalt Institute (AI), and the Portland Cement Association (PCA).
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Foundation analysis and design
TL;DR: In this paper, Fondation de soutenagement et al. presented a reference record for Dimensionnement Reference Record created on 2004-09-07, modified on 2016-08-08.
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Principles of Pavement Design
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the design of Flexible Airport Pavements and Rigid Highway Paves, as well as their application in the construction of highway and airport road networks.
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Characterization of Cementitiously Stabilized Layers for Use in Pavement Design and Analysis
TL;DR: In this article, the characterization of cementitiously stabilized layers and the properties that influence pavement performance are discussed, as well as performance-related procedures for characterizing these layers and performance-prediction models for incorporation into the mechanistic-empirical pavement analysis methods.