Stress analysis of rigid pavements

Atul Narayan, S. P.
IIT Madras

September 13, 2015

Outline

Introduction

Westergaards solutions

Stresses Due to Curling

KENSLABS

Outline

Introduction

Westergaards solutions

Stresses Due to Curling

KENSLABS

Subordinate learning objectives

To analyze the stress-strain distribution in pavements for

given loading conditions.

To estimate pavement distresses based on stresses and strains

in pavement structure.

To explain the effect of mechanical properties on pavement

behavior and performance.

To analyze the stresses and distresses caused by vehicle

loading.

To estimate the expected volume of traffic in design life.

Outline

Introduction

Westergaards solutions

Stresses Due to Curling

KENSLABS

Critical Points of Loading

Corner

Edge

Interior

Concentrated load at slab corner

Concentrated load P is acting vertically at the corner of the

slab.

The subgrade support is neglected.

The slab is assumed to act like a cantilever.

At any distance x from the corner

c =

Px
1
2
6 (2x)h

3P
h2

(1)

Approximate solutions
Corner loading

Circular loading at the corner of the slab.

Solution was first obtained by Westergaard.

0.6

1 ( a 2 )

P
a 2
c = 2 [1.1 0.88 (
)]
kl
l
3P
c = 2
h

where
a is the radius of contact area
l is the radius of relative stiffness
h is the thickness of the slab
P is the load
k is the modulus of subgrade reaction

(2)
(3)

Approximate solutions
Corner loading

The contact area is assumed to be a square.

Empirical solution is obtained by finite element method.

3P
c 0.6
[1

(
) ]
h2
l
P
c
c = 2 [1.205 0.69 ( )]
kl
l
c =

where
c is the side length of the contact area
c = 1.772a

(4)
(5)

Approximate solutions
Interior loading

Solution was obtained by Westergaard

l
3(1 + )P
[ln + 0.6159]
2
2h
b
P
a
a 2
1
i =
{ln
(
)

0.673}
(
) ]
[1
+
8kl 2
2
2l
l
i =

where
b = a when a 1.724h

b = 1.6a2 + h2 0.675h when a < 1.724h

(6)
(7)

Approximate solutions
Edge loading

Solution was obtained by Westergaard

Poissons ratio of 0.15 was assumed

Circular loading:
l
a
0.803P
[4 log ( ) + 0.666 ( ) 0.034]
2
h
a
l
0.431P
a
e =
[1 0.82 ( )]
kl 2
l
e =

(8)
(9)

Semi-circular loading:
0.803P
l
a
[4 log ( ) + 0.282 ( ) + 0.650]
2
h
a
l
0.431P
a
e =
[1 0.349 ( )]
kl 2
l
e =

(10)
(11)

Contact area for Rigid Pavements

In case of rigid pavements, the Portland Cement Association

(PCA) recommend the following shape for the contact area:
0.6L

0.8712L

The odd length measures in the contact area is because of

PCAs old assumption for the shape of the contact area:
0.6L

They wanted the current shape to have the same area in

terms of L as the old shape of the contact area.

Stresses due to dual tyres and non-circular loading

Sd

0.6L

When Pd is the load on a single tyre and q is the contact pressure:

Pd = q [(0.3L)2 + (0.4L)(0.6L) = 0.5227L2 ]

Pd
L=
0.5227q

(12)
(13)

Stresses due to dual tyres and non-circular loading (cont.)

The equivalent circular area should include the area between the
two tyres. The area of the equivalent circular area is
a2 = 2 0.5227L2 + (Sd 0.6L)L = 0.4454L2 + Sd L

Pd
0.8521Pd
2
a =
+ Sd
q
0.5227q

0.8521P
Sd
Pd
d

+
a=
q

0.5227q
Use the equivalent circular contact area in the approximate
equations.

(14)
(15)
(16)

Outline

Introduction

Westergaards solutions

Stresses Due to Curling

KENSLABS

Curling stresses in finite slab

In finite slabs curling stresses in x and y direction area

E T T
(Cx + Cy )
2(1 2 )
E T T
=
(Cy + Cx )
2(1 2 )

xx =

(17)

yy

(18)

where Cx and Cy are stress correction factors.

Stress correction factor for curling stresses

Radius of relative stiffness

For liquid foundation:

1

4
Eh3
]
l =[
12(1 2 )k

(19)

For elastic foundation:

1

Eh3 (1 s2 ) 3
l =[
]
6Es (1 2 )

(20)

Curling stress at the edge

At the edge of the slab, curling stresses are influenced only by

expansion along the edge.

Expansion perpendicular to the edge has no influence.

Stress at mid-span is given by:

=

CE e T
2

(21)

Outline

Introduction

Westergaards solutions

Stresses Due to Curling

KENSLABS

Introduction to KENSLABS program

It is a finite element program for calculating stresses due to

loading and curling

It can handle up to 9 slabs at a time with 12 joints and a

total of 420 nodes

Each slab can have a maximum of 15 nodes in each direction

Major Outputs

Major, Minor stresses and maximum shear stress at each node

xx , yy and xy at each node

xx and yy are positive when bottom is in tension.