Structurally reinforced concrete pavement behavior under static and cyclic loads

Author(s)

Patrícia Lizi de Oliveira Maggi

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2004-04-05

Examining board members

Libanio Miranda Pinheiro; Jose Tadeu Balbo; Mounir Khalil El Debs; Jose Samuel Giongo; Gilson Natal Guimarães

• Advisor: Libanio Miranda Pinheiro

Abstract

A numerical and experimental study on the behavior of structurally reinforced concrete pavement under vertical static and repeated load is presented. The contribution of bending reinforcement to the strength of concrete slab is assessed. It is experimentally verified the fracture of reinforced and plain concrete slabs under monotonic loads and under cyclic loads. The concrete cracking and the strain on steel are monitored. The results are compared to the brazilian code recommendations to the design of structures under fatigue. A numerical model that represents the soil-slab interface, the concrete cracking, the reinforcement contribution and the tension stiffening behavior is developed. Some important parameters to the pavement design are analyzed using this finite element model, whose reliability was verified to experimental results. These parameters are: the soil capacity; the slab thickness; reinforcement ratio; slab dimensions; load positions; and joints conditions. The tests data show an important contribution of the positive reinforcement on the strength of an isolated slab with centered load. It has been verified the fatigue of the steel. The number of cycles depends on the reinforcement strain. The results are used to propose some directions to the design. The positive and negative bending moments have to be considered and the fatigue on the concrete and on the reinforcement has to be verified (AU)