FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF UNREINFORCED CONCRETE PAVEMENTS (VI AND END) : STRESSES IN COMBINATION OF TRAFFIC LOADS AND TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS

This article looks into the KOLA calculation results obtained for situations when traffic loads and temperature gradients both occurr at the same time. In this only the bending tensile stresses in the middle of the lateral edge of the slab are considered, and only positive temperature gradients are taken into account. The calculations were made for 216 unreinforced concrete pavements, in which the slab's own weight was taken into account. The non linear supporting behaviour of the slab was simulated. The traffic load consisted of a wheel containing only air, and ranged from 30 to 90 kN inclusive. The the temperature load consisted of temperature gradients ranging from 0.01 to 0.07 degrees Celsius/mm inclusive. After a discussion of the calculation results, these results are compared with the values for the bending tensile stresses obtained by adding the stresses due solely to the wheel load, to the stresses due solely to a temperature gradient. It is concluded that the results obtained with the KOLA model are more accurate than those obtained with the traditional analytic calculation models of Westergaard and Eisenmann, and that comparing the results can lead to correction of the stresses calculated with these traditional models. For the other articles in this series and the evaluation see IRRD 858052-858056, and 858058.