FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF JOINTED OR CRACKED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

A finite-element computer program called ILLI-SLAB and written in FORTRAN IV is described. The procedure is based on the classical theory of a medium-thick plate on a Winkler foundation and can be used for the analysis of concrete pavemants that have joints or cracks or both. The program can include consideration of various types of load-transfer systems such as dowel bars, reinforcement steel, aggregate interlock, or keyways by treating the dowel bars and reinforcement steel as linear-elastic string elements and the aggregate interlock and keyways as linear-elastic spring elements. The model is also capable of handling the effects of stabilized bases or overlays on the stresses and deflections in concrete pavements and of traffic loadings on concrete shoulders that may or may not have tie bars, continuously reinforced concrete pavements, and slabs of varying thicknesses. The accuracy of the model for the prediction of stresses and deflections in concrete pavements has been verified by comparison with available theoretical solutions and the results of experimental studies. /Author/