A predictive model of slab cracking has been developed by considering the actual behavior of chile's portland cement concrete (pcc) pavements. The approach used is mechanistic-empirical and is based on a structural modeling of the jointed pavement using a finite elements program. The model incorporates realistic boundary conditions ofupward concave slabs under yearly cyclic moisture warping and dailycyclic temperature curling, obtained from measurements in the climatic zone of central chile. Fatigue consumption in the slabs was evaluated for the actual traffic loads passing during each group of hours in each season to determine the different levels of upward concavities. The accumulated fatigue consumption of all pavements was calculated and plotted against the percentage of cracked slabs observed in the field. The resulting model is a unique s-shaped curve that is useful for indicating the effect of many design variables on cracking. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1307, Pavement analysis, design, rehabilitation, and environmental factors 1991.
Abstract