A DISCRETE-ELEMENT SOLUTION OF PLATES AND PAVEMENT SLABS USING A VARIABLE-INCREMENT-LENGTH MODEL

A METHOD OF SOLVING FOR THE DEFLECTED SHAPE OF FREELY DISCONTINUOUS PLATES AND PAVEMENT SLABS SUBJECTED TO A VARIETY OF LOADS INCLUDING TRANSVERSE LOADS, IN-PLANE FORCES, AND EXTERNALLY APPLIED COUPLES IS PRESENTED. IT IS APPLICABLE TO UNIFORM AND DISCONTINUOUS PLATES AND PAVEMENT SLABS WITH FREELY-VARIABLE FOUNDATION SUPPORT, INCLUDING HOLES IN THE SUBGRADE. A DIRECT METHOD IS PRESENTED FOR SOLVING THE DISCRETE-ELEMENT EQUATIONS, WHICH ARE AN EXACT MATHEMATICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE DISCRETE-ELEMENT MODEL. OTHER REFERENCED REPORTS HAVE DESCRIBED PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS. THE MODEL PRESENTED CONTAINS THE CAPABILITY TO INCLUDE VARIABLE INCREMENT LENGTHS BETWEEN STATIONS. THIS PROVIDES THE CAPABILITY OF GREATER ACCURACY IN THE SOLUTION NEAR LOADS AND CHANGES IN THE STIFFNESS OF THE SLAB. A COMPUTER PROGRAM IS PRESENTED FOR SOLVING THE EQUATIONS DEVELOPED FROM THE VARIABLE INCREMENT MODEL. SEVERAL EXAMPLE PROBLEMS ILLUSTRATE THE METHOD'S ADVANTAGES OVER PREVIOUS METHODS. THE RESULTS COMPARE WELL WITH CLOSED-FORM SOLUTIONS AND WITH OTHER DISCRETE-ELEMENT METHODS. /AUTHOR/