Design of Heavily Loaded Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements

Abstract

Industrial pavements are subjected to very large loads, e.g., axle loads exceeding 1000 kN and containers stacked in height and blocks equaling single loads of even higher magnitude. Often, industrial pavements are located in harbors where the subgrade may consist of the previous bottom of the sea and fillings. It is necessary to make the concrete pavement competitive and as thin as possible without jeopardizing safety. Continuous reinforced concrete pavements (CRCP) may be one possibility. Prof. A. Losberg used yield line theory (YLT) for the design of CRCP. The YLT is described in the paper through some simple and practical cases. The YLT allows considerably higher ultimate loads than the theory of elasticity. One problem is how to handle fatigue. It is illustrated by tests found in the literature. Finally, a new Swedish design concept for industrial CRCP based on YLT and containing a high safety factor to prevent fatigue failure is described.