BFRP Concrete Pavement Analysis Based on Pavement Mechanics

Abstract

A finite element model was established by Abaqus to investigate the mechanical characteristics of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) with basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) based on existing experimental results. Influences of crack width, BFRP modulus, reinforcement ratio, as well as void under the pavement were analyzed, especially their influences on the stress situation of the cement concrete pavement structure and load transfer capacity. Results show that compared to pavements with traditional steel rebars, the crack width, distance, and transverse tension stress increased in pavements with BFRP rebars. Moreover, crack width and void beneath pavement clearly influence both mechanical state and load transfer efficiency. The concrete loses load transfer ability when crack width surpasses 1.1 mm, and the load transfer between slabs depends on rebars. The BFRP modulus and reinforcement ratio show little effect on either mechanical state or load transfer efficiency. Therefore, amplifying the BFRP modulus or reinforcement ratio to increase the load transfer coefficient is uneconomical. The findings provide guidelines for the design of CRCP reinforced by BFRP.