Recipient: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute
Grant: $64,295
Completion: 2022
Project Summary: 22
Background and Need
In 2015, Applied Research Associates pavement engineering consultants were retained by the ICPI Foundation for Education & Research to conduct computerized finite element modeling (FEM) of various shapes and thicknesses of paving slab and plank units. ICPI Foundation Project Summary 11 provides information on this modeling. The units were subjected to modeled truck wheel loads (~8,750 lbs of 40 kN) on three pavement structures; dense-graded aggregate, lean concrete over an aggregate subbase, and concrete over an aggregate subbase. Structural design tables were provided from the FEM with traffic categories and load limits for a range of square and rectangular slabs, as well as planks, with flexural strengths of 650 and 750 psi (4.5 and 5.2 MPa) on aggregate, stabilized, and concrete bases over four soil subgrade strengths.
From applying a single wheel load on each paving assembly, the FEM calculated the resulting stresses in the slabs and base. Structural design tables allowed up to 75,000, 18,000 lb. (80 kN) equivalent single axle loads (ESALs) using stress ratios, i.e., the applied tire stress divided by the paving unit flexural stress. The structural design tables were included in a draft of CMHA Tech Note PAV-TEC-024 Structural Design of Segmental Concrete Slabs and Plank Systems.