ANALYSIS OF STRESSES IN CONCRETE PAVEMENTS DUE TO VARIATIONS OF TEMPERATURE

TLDR

Concrete pavements are modeled as homogeneous elastic solids, and their temperature‑induced curling and blow‑up are analyzed using elasticity theory, considering both early and later life stages. The study analyzes temperature‑induced stresses and deflections in concrete pavement. The analysis examines corners, interior, and edges of the pavement, using simple calculations based on temperature change, expansion coefficient, modulus of elasticity, and Poisson’s ratio. Numerical examples demonstrate the equations’ significance, with results presented in tables and diagrams.

Abstract

STRESSES AND DEFLECTIONS PRODUCED BY VARIATIONS OF TEMPERATURE ARE ANALYZED IN CONCRETE PAVEMENT. THE PAVEMENT IS ASSUMED TO ACT AS A HOMOGENOUS ELASTIC SOLID. THE THEORY OF ELASTICITY IS THE BASIS OF THE MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS. CURLING DUE TO CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE AND THE BLOWUP DUE TO LACK OF PROVISION FOR EXPANSION ARE ANALYZED. STRESSES DUE TO VARIATIONS OF TEMPERATURE ARE CONSIDERED FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW: (1) REFERENCE TO THE EARLY LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT, BEFORE THE PAVEMENT HAS OBTAINED FULL STRENGTH AND BEFORE IT IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC, AND (2) THE LATER LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT AFTER IT HAS GAINED STRENGTH AND BEEN OPEN TO TRAFFIC. THREE PLACES ON THE PANEL OF THE PAVEMENT ARE EXAMINED: THE CORNERS, THE INTERIOR AREA, AND THE EDGES. THE CASE OF A UNIFORM CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE MAY BE INVESTIGATED BY SIMPLE COMPUTATIONS INVOLVING THE AMOUNT OF CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE, THE COEFFICIENT OF TEMPERATURE EXPANSION, THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY AND POISSON'S RETIO OF LATERAL EXPANSION TO LONGITUDINAL SHORTENING AS FOUND IN DIRECT COMPRESSION. A NUMERICAL EXAMPLE SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EQUATIONS. RESULTS ARE GIVEN IN TABLES AND DIAGRAMS AND THE USE OF THE RESULTS IS ILLUSTREATED BY NUMERICAL EXAMPLES.