Modelling of rigid pavements in road projects in northern Colombia, using the Finite Element method

Abstract

Rigid concrete pavement structure solutions are a widely used alternative worldwide. This type of flooring has serious advantages, such as its long useful life and its low level of maintenance during its service period, which nevertheless implies a high investment in the construction phase, but which is recovered over time due to its high durability. Pavement analysis and design methodologies have been based over the years on purely empirical methods. However, at present, methodologies based on mechanistic procedures are gaining popularity, with which it is intended to have a more scientific approach to the matter. However, regardless of the methodology used to carry out the design phase, a pavement project must have relevant information about the different variables involved in the performance of the structure during its service life. Therefore, it is important to have reliable information related to the characteristics of vehicular traffic, and especially, with the frequency and distribution of the loads of the heaviest vehicles; with the characteristics of the foundation soils, with the characteristics and properties of the materials that will make up the structure, and even with the climatic characteristics of the geographical area where the project will be developed. The objective pursued in this work focuses on showing the parameters involved and the results obtained in the modeling and design of rigid pavements, based on information collected from road projects located in the north of Colombia. Within the data used, the geotechnical characteristics of the subgrade soils are available, which were obtained from geotechnical studies carried out in the project area. In addition, the results of the modeling of multiple pavement structures are presented, where for different thicknesses of the concrete slab and varying the properties of the materials of the same and of the subgrade, the effect produced by the application of an external load was evaluated, consisting of a standard 80 kN single axle with double wheel. For the modeling and analysis of the structures, the finite element method was used, through the use of the EverFE software, which is a 3D finite element analysis tool, which is commonly used to simulate the response of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) in the face of traffic loads and environmental effects. Information related to the state of stresses and displacements of the pavement slabs analyzed was obtained as output data from the software.

Experimental study on foam concrete as a sub-base layer of rigid pavement

“…In addition, rigid pavements also have advantages such as less hydroplaning and enhanced night vision, which serve to increase safety and reduce the number of accidents that can occur [5]. Rigid pavements are more suitable for road design with high traffic and vehicle loads [2,5,6,7], ports or airports [8][9][10].…”

“…Rigid pavement structures generally consist of 3 layers arranged on a subgrade: surface, sub-base and base. Each layer plays a role in absorbing the stress obtained from the vehicle load and then spreading it to the layer below it to the subgrade [6]. The sub-base is an essential part of the pavement structure and road serviceability.…”