Equivalent Single-Axle Load Factor for Rigid Pavements

Abstract

This paper describes results of a full-scale load test program that was carried out on one section of rigid pavements of a newly constructed freeway in Taiwan. The pavement tested was instrumented with strain gauges and earth pressure gauges to measure the strain of the concrete pavement and the response (earth pressure) of the subgrade. The measured data were used to study the equivalent single-axle load factor (ESLF) for various single-axle and dual-axle vehicles. The values of ESLF obtained from the load tests were compared with those determined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) method and the ILLISLAB code. The results obtained in this study indicated that in general, the AASHTO method yields a reliable prediction of the ESLF; in the absence of load tests, the results obtained through the ILLISLAB analysis may complement those obtained by the AASHTO method.