AN EMPIRICAL-MECHANISTIC DESIGN METHOD USING BONDED CONCRETE OVERLAYS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF PAVEMENTS. INTERIM REPORT

In this report, a design model for bonded concrete overlays was developed. The development included observations of the performance of existing bonded concrete overlays with varying depths, reinforcement types, and various bonding treatments. These observations were studied in detail and then analyzed statistically. The model development involved establishing the failure mechanisms which cause delamination and cracking in the bonded overlays. A finite-element program was then used to model the cracking and delamination of bonded overlays subjected to a variety of wheel loads and environmental stresses. The failure mechanisms, together with the stress information, were compared to performance observations and used to develop the design procedure.