STRESSES IN RIGID

PAVEMENTS
 STRESSES IN RIGID PAVEMENTS
 developed as a result of several
factors, including the action of traffic
wheel loads, the expansion and
contraction of the concrete due to
temperature changes, yielding of the
subbase or subgrade supporting the
concrete pavement, and volumetric
changes.
 Factors that induce stress
Concrete pavement slabs are considered as
unreinforced concrete beams. Any
contribution made to the flexural strength by
the inclusion of reinforcing steel is neglected.
The combination of flexural and direct
tensile stresses will inevitably result in
transverse and longitudinal cracks.
The supporting subbase and/or subgrade
layer acts as an elastic material in that it
deflects at the application of the traffic load
and recovers at the removal of the load.
 Stresses Induced by Bending
The ability of rigid pavements to sustain a beamlike action
across irregularities in the underlying material.
The theory of a beam supported on an elastic foundation
therefore can be used to analyze the stresses in the pavement
when it is externally loaded.
The stresses developed in the beam may be
analyzed by assuming that a reactive pressure
(p), which is proportional to the deflection, is
developed as a result of the applied load. This
pressure is given as:
p=ky
where:
p=reactive pressure at any point beneath the
beam (lb/in2)
y=deflection at the point (in.)
k=modulus of subgrade reaction (lb/in3)
Stresses due to traffic wheel loads
Westergaard
developed the basic equation for determining
flexural stress in concrete pavement due to traffi c
wheel loads
Westergaard Equation
it is still considered a fundamental tool for
evaluating stresses on concrete pavements
 Modified equations for the different
loading conditions are as follow
Edge loading when the edges of the slab are warped upward at
night.

Edge loading when the slab is unwrapped or when the edge of

the slab is curled downward during the day.
Interior loading
 IOANNIDES EQUATION
For circular loaded area:

For a semicircular loaded area:

 Stresses due to Temperature
Effects
The tendency of the slab edges to curl downward during the
day and upward during the night as a result of temperature
gradients is resisted by the weight of the slab itself.
These curling stresses can be determined from Equations:
however, that curling stresses are not normally
taken into consideration in pavement thickness
design, since joints and steel reinforcement are
normally used to reduce the effect of such stresses.
EXAMPLE:
Determine the tensile stress imposed by a
semicircular wheel load of 900 lb imposed during
the day and located at the edge of a concrete
pavement with the following dimensions and
properties (a) by using the Westergaard equation,
and (b) by using the Ioannides equation.

Pavement thickness = 6"

U= 0.15
E = 5x10^6 lb/in2
k =130 lb/in3
Radius of loaded area = 3"