Early-age deformations and internal stresses in jointed plain concrete pavements for dutch conditions

Author(s): M. Pradena, L. Houben
Paper category: Conference
Book title: 2nd International conference on Microstructural-related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): Guang Ye, K. Van Breugel, Wei Sun, Changwen Miao
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-129-2
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-123-0
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Pages: 1296- 1304
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
Jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP) are designed in such a way that cracks occur under the transverse joints (and also the longitudinal joints). These cracks are formed at earlyage as a consequence of the internal stresses. The development of the crack width can affect the load transfer between slabs, increasing the deterioration and the risk of structural failure. But wider cracks may also contribute to joint faulting (longitudinal unevenness). Hence the behaviour of the concrete at early-age affects the durability of the JPCP.

In 2010 Houben has published a paper on the modelling of the process of cracking at transverse joints in JPCP. Houben uses equations from the standard Eurocode 2 for the timedependent concrete properties and for the deformations in different design and construction conditions. For properties that are not available in standards, Houben made assumptions based on engineering judgment. The general trends of his results (rather then absolute values) seem to be in accordance with the field behaviour of JPCPs. In this present paper the Houben modelling is compared with others models.

The objective of this paper is to improve the theoretical background of the modelling considering the reality of JPCPs for Dutch conditions. In this context, the most important differences in the crack pattern and the crack widths are due to the application of different relaxation models, in some cases resulting in outcomes that are not in agreement with the reality of JPCPs in the Netherlands. Accordingly a new relaxation model is proposed. From both theoretical and practical point of view the improvements describe in a better way the early age deformations and internal stresses in JPCP for Dutch conditions.

Online publication: 2013
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00