Nonlinear FE Analysis of Plain Concrete Pavements with Doweled Joints

Abstract

Nonlinear finite element analysis of dowel‐jointed concrete pavements is presented. The nonlinearities considered are cracking of concrete in tension, compressive yielding of concrete, and loss of support due to lift‐off of pavements because of temperature gradients. Smeared cracking representation of cracks in concrete and a plasticity‐based material model are employed. Loss of support due to removal of subgrade material through pumping is considered. Analysis of a doweled joint subjected to shear loading is performed to obtain dowel‐concrete interface response characteristics. Analyses of plain concrete pavements subjected to self‐weight, temperature gradients, and static wheel loads are performed with four different extent of loss of subgrade support and two different dowel‐concrete interface characteristics. The loss of subgrade support may lead to a rapid deterioration of pavements through fatigue, by increasing the tensile stress level in concrete. Faulting of slabs may also be due to loss of support at the far end of the slabs. Softening of the dowel‐concrete interface stiffness significantly affects the efficiency of the joint in transferring the loads. Nighttime temperature curling further increases the stresses due to lift‐off of slabs at the ends, while daytime temperature curling is found to be less critical.