GLASNOST AND CONCRETE PAVEMENT ENGINEERING: DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING SLABS-ON-GRADE FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

Abstract

Advances in the state-of-knowledge concerning the behavior of slabs-on-grade achieved in the former Soviet Union are presented and discussed. Most of these are at present solutions to applied mathematics problems, but may be rendered applicable to concrete pavement engineering if recast in more practical forms using the capabilities of high speed computers. The Paper focusses on issues pertaining to the study of edge loading and load transfer phenomena in multi-layered concrete pavement systems. Contributions from the East are currently considered for incorporation in a mechanistic design procedure against catastrophic modes of failure ("limit states"), operative in addition to long-term, fatigue­ type distress mechanisms.