Rigid Pavement Design

[CPENG78]

All,
I'm looking for a calculator that is easily accessible that I can use to back calculate the adequacy of a concrete section. Basically I'm encountering the need to show whether a 4" Concrete Over 12" Aggregate Base will hold an occasional 22,000 lbs axle load. Long while ago, I used to use or have access to kenlayer/kenpave for pavement design during my years in school. Anything outer that anyone recommends? By they way, I realize many DOTs have tables available, those I can definitely access but I'm interested to learn what other tools are outer. As always, thank you in advance for your help and recommendations.

 

[oldestguy]

I'd see about getting a used book written for the general subject of pavemens and perhaps that will satisfy your needs. Off hand I'd say your 4" pavement thickness will be found to be totally insufficient. An old standby by Yoder covers many design techniques. "Principles of pavement design" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9780470172919

 

[Ron]

As OG notes, Yoder and Witczak's "Principles of Pavement Design" is a good reference. It has a section on elastic layer analysis which would serve your purpose for this application. Another analysis option is to use the programs produced by the State of Washington Department of Transportation. They are based on elastic layer analysis.

Given all that, 4" is too thin. It will likely crack from the loading. That thickness will also likely crack from subgrade restraint. It is difficult to control the thickness of a 4" slab within ACI tolerances.

 

[Okiryu]

For our DoDs projects, we use PCASE program which was developed by USACE:

https://transportation.erdc.dren.mil/pcase/

For quick checks, I also have my own spreadsheet based on Westergard's theory for stresses in rigid pavements.

By the way, as mentioned above, the Yoder and Witczack's book is a good reference. I also used "Pavement Analysis and Design" by Yang H.Huang.

Also, as OG and Ron suggested, your 4" PCC layer may not be appropriate. My recommendations for minimum thickness for PCC layers is 6".

 

[TerryScan]

Here is an online tool for rigid pavement design:

https://tools.infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/Rigid/Rigid.aspx

You will need to create a free account to use the online tool.

 

[CPENG78]

Thank you all for your input. I actually do have a copy of "Pavement Analysis and Design" by Yang H.Huang but since I'm traveling don't have handy access.

Will certainly look into these. Thank you again