LOAD DISPERSION ABILITY OF CONCRETE BLOCK LAYERS

SUMMARY The top layer of concrete block pavement (CBP) is discrete and discontinuous. Tests conducted around the world demonstrate that CBP responds to traffic in a way that differs from the response of flexible asphalt or rigid concrete pavement. It is too complex to incorporate the discontinuities (joints) in the structural modeling of the block layer. However, the design method can be simplified made similar to the method for flexible pavement by removing the block layer in the analysis and applying an equivalent reduced traffic load intensity spread over a larger area directly on the base course. The load dispersion behavior of the block layer depends primarily on the structural interactions among its individual components so as to build up resistance to applied loads. Plate load tests were carried out to quantify the ability of block pavers to distribute vertical load. The test pavements were studied under an applied load of 51 kN, which corresponds to half the legal single axle load limit at present in force in India. Blocks of five shapes and three thicknesses were used in the investigation. Pressure cells were embedded in the top of the subbase to measure the intensity of load transfer from the top of the block layer to the base course. The horizontal spread of the vertical load was also determined from pressure cells positioned so as to cover a wide area on top of the base course.

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