NEW PCA THICKNESS DESIGN FOR CONCRETE HIGHWAY AND STREET PAVEMENTS

The first publication by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) on thickness design procedure for concrete pavements for highways and streets was issued in 1966. As a result of several changes in construction methods and performance experience since that time, a new PCA design procedure was developed by packard and tayabji in 1983. This paper will highlight the development of the finite element method used to analyze concrete pavements and describe the resulting thickness design procedure based on the finite element computer program JSLAB. A new development in this analysis and design procedure is the erosion criterion, which is applied in addition to the stress fatigue criterion. The theoretical analysis used to develop this design procedure was based on a comprehensive evaluation of concrete stresses and deflections by a finite-element computer program. The program models the conventional design factors of concrete properties, foundation support and loadings plus joint load transfer by dowels or aggregate interlock, concrete shoulders and axle load placement at slab interior, edge, joint and corner. For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 286189. (TRRL)