THICKNESS DESIGN CURVES FOR PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Past experience indicates that thickness designs using portland cement concrete best agree with criterion used in the Portland Cement Association's design method for 18-kip EAL of 2 to 3 million or less. For EALs greater than 2 to 3 million, past experience best agrees with criterion developed from the AASHO Road Test. Research herein indicates the two criterion become asymptotic to each other at approximately 2.5 million EAL. For a variation in thickness and elastic moduli in portland cement concrete, dense-graded aggregate, and subgrade elastic modulus, research indicates that a general conic equation (included herein) very closely 18-kip single axleload. The transition from a tensile strain to a work criterion is presented. Decreasing the thickness of dense-graded aggregate base caused a maximum increase of 0.15 inches in the thickness of portland cement concrete. Thus, the design curves are presented for a concrete elastic modulus of 4.2 million psi (Kentucky concrete strength). (Author)